Management options for minimizing the damage by ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei) in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Ascochyta blight, a fungal disease caused by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labrousse, is the major constraint for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production worldwide. Current cultivars only possess partial resistance to the pathogen, and this level of resistance can breakdown easily because the pathogen is highly variable due to potential for sexual recombination. The development of integrated disease management is the key for successful chickpea production. In this review, we summarize the key crop management practices from the major chickpea growing areas in the world. Emphasis is on strategies and options that can be used to minimize the damage caused by this disease. The use of ascochyta blight-free seed and seed dressing with effective fungicides reduces the probability of transmitting seed-borne disease to the seedlings. Deep-burying or burning of chickpea stubble minimizes stubble-borne inoculum. One to two years of non-host crops for warm and wet areas and 3–4 year crop rotation for cold and dry areas are required to reduce the levels of stubble-borne inoculum. The use of field isolation and sowing chickpea at a distance from previous chickpea crops will reduce the density of airborne ascospores released from infected debris. Optimum sowing date, deep sowing, optimizing plant density, balanced nutrition, and alternative sowing patterns should be considered as a means of reducing ascochyta blight pressure wherever possible. Sprays at seedling stage or before the occurrence of infection are crucial in short-season areas or where ascospores are the major sources of inoculum. Chickpea growers are strongly encouraged to adopt an integrated approach that combines all agronomic options, including cultivar selection, if they are to manage this disease economically and effectively.