Plant
2017; 5(1): 23-30
http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/plant
doi: 10.11648/j.plant.20170501.15
ISSN: 2331-0669 (Print); ISSN: 2331-0677 (Online)
Survey of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) Ascochyta Blight
(Ascochyta rabiei Pass.) Disease Status in Production
Regions of Ethiopia
Megersa Tadesse1, *, Losenge Turoop1, Chris O. Ojiewo2
1
Research Methods Program, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
2
International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email address:
magetade@gmail.com (M. Tadesse)
*
Corresponding author
To cite this article:
Megersa Tadesse, Losenge Turoop, Chris O. Ojiewo. Survey of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) Ascochyta Blight (Ascochyta rabiei Pass.)
Disease Status in Production Regions of Ethiopia. Plant. Vol. 5, No. 1, 2017, pp. 23-30. doi: 10.11648/j.plant.20170501.15
Received: April 27, 2016; Accepted: October 13, 2016; Published: December 2, 2016
Abstract: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulse crops in Ethiopia. Earlier reports and field
observations have shown that Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei is one of the most devastating diseases of this crop
in Ethiopia. Survey was conducted during August 2015 to February 2016 to determine the status of the blight disease in major
chickpea the growing area of Ethiopia. A total of 251 on-station and on-farm fields were surveyed. Ascochyta blight was
observed in 30 of the 251 fields and incidence ranged from 0 to 45.6 % with mean of < 10%. The highest mean incidence was
observed in Ensaro district of Amhara region (46.6%) followed by Lume district of Oromia region (15%). The severity varied
from 1 to 7 with mean severity of 1 to 3.2 which was observed in few fields. The low incidence and severity of the disease
observed in the 2015/2016 season was associated with the drought conditions occasioned by El nino conditions.
Keywords: Ascochyta Blight, Chickpea, Drought, Prevalence, Incidence, Severity
1. Introduction
Chickpea is legume crop in reducing poverty and hunger,
improving human health and nutrition, improving incomes
especially to smallholder women farmers and enhancing
ecosystem balance. The crop is grown in more than 50
countries and is third in production after dry bean and field
pea (FAOSTAT, 2014). Africa accounts for 5% of world's
chickpea production, mostly from Ethiopia, Malawi,
Tanzania and Kenya in Eastern Africa and Morocco in North
Africa. Ethiopia is among the top five world producers of
chickpea (FAO, 2014). Ethiopia is the largest producer of
chickpea in Africa, accounting for about 60% of the
continent’s production in 2014.
Despite its importance in Ethiopia, its productivity (1.9
tons ha-1;CSA, 2015) is still relatively low compared to its
potential under well managed production (5 tons ha-1).
Although many factors contribute towards low chickpea
production, blight disease caused by Ascohcyta rabiei (Pass.)
Lab. is one of the major limiting factors. This disease has
been reported in Ethiopia as well as in 35 countries across six
continents (Pande et al., 2005; Nene et al., 1996).
Ascochyta blight causes death to plant, reduces seed
quality and causes yield losses up to 100% (Haware, 1998;
Nene et al., 1996; Pande et al., 2005; Pande et al., 2011;
Knights and Siddique, 2002; Merzoug et al., 2009; PRRP,
2008 and Chongo et al., 2000). It is usually associated with
severe reduction in chickpea yield and quality, especially
under cool and wet conditions (Kaiser 1997). Blight disease
can infect all above-ground plant parts.
Ascochyta blight problem in Ethiopia has been aggravated
by changes in chickpea production and rainfall patterns
(Abate et al., 2011). Continuous rainfall and cloudy weather
conditions during growing season enhance the development
and spread of the disease (Jhorar et al., 1998). The disease
occurs at all physiological stages ranging from seedling to
maturity (Singh and Sharma, 1998). Other climatic factors
such as temperature, relative humidity, wetness duration and
windiness favor the occurrence and spread of the disease
(Weltzein and Kaak, 1984; Trapero-Casas and Kaiser, 1992;
24
Megersa Tadesse et al.: Survey of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) Ascochyta Blight (Ascochyta rabiei Pass.)
Disease Status in Production Regions of Ethiopia
Reddy and Singh, 1990). Therefore, timely measures at all
growth stages should be taken to prevent chickpea from
Ascochyta blight. Farmers in Ethiopia try to get over it by
planting late when the rains have subsided, but end up with
the challenge of terminal drought.
Development of effective disease management strategy
depends, among others, on the timely detection and precise
identification of the pathogen and timely application of the
control measures. Survey and identification of plant
pathogens is important to understand the association of
pathogens with a specific host plant and to map out their
geographic distribution (Agrios, 1997). In Ethiopia, despite
the importance, the blight disease has not been extensively
studied and there is no current quantitative information on
the status of blight foliar disease on chickpea production.
Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine
chickpea ascochyta blight status in the chickpea production
regions of Ethiopia.
Ascochyta blight epidemics are a recurrent phenomenon in
Ethiopia (Asrat et al., 2015), indicating that no cultivars are
immune to A. rabiei as the pathogen continues to evolve the
ability to overcome resistant varieties (Chen et al., 2004).
More effort is needed to identify new sources of resistance.
Knowledge of genetic variation of pathogen populations is
required for successful resistance breeding (Peever et al.,
2004). However, recent observations indicate that the disease
occurrence is becoming variable over seasons due to changes
in precipitation that favour disease development and severe
pod infection (Abang and Malhotra, 2008). Considering that
even resistant chickpea varieties are susceptible to Ascochyta
blight during the reproductive phase, concerted effort is
needed to ensure the development of lines that are resistant at
all developmental stages of the crop (Abang and Malhotra,
2008).
2. Materials and Methods
Disease Survey and Sampling
Field surveys were conducted between August 2015 to
February 2016 during the chickpea growing season in four
major regions (Oromia, Ahmara, SPNNP and Tigray) of
Ethiopia for the determination of the prevalence, incidence,
and severity of chickpea blight disease. Emphasis was put on
areas where chickpea is an important crop, or areas known to
be hot spots of the disease. Fields sampled were 5 to 10 km a
part. A total of 251 fields covering 83 districts were surveyed
from both farmers' and experimental fields based on reports
received from farmers, local extension agents and
collaborative research centers on disease occurence. In each
location, crop condition, growth stage, disease symptoms,
and aphid populations was recorded on 10 to 20 plants
selected at random while walking in a diagonal path. Infected
chickpea plant samples (leaves, stems and pods) were placed
in labeled plastic bags and were taken to the EIAR laboratory
for isolation and further analysis.
Geographic features like latitude, longitude and altitude
were recorded from all surveyed areas using handheld Global
Positioning System (GPS), to trace back the specific
locations and symptoms of blight fungi. Percent of disease
prevalence, incidence and severity (1–9 rating scale; 1= No
visible symptoms; 2= minute lesions prominent on the apical
stems; 3= lesions up to 5‒10 mm in size and slight drooping
of apical stems; 4= lesions obvious on all plant parts and
clear drooping of apical stems; 5= lesions on all plants parts,
defoliation initiated, breaking and drying of branches slight
to moderate; 6= lesions as in 5, defoliation, broken, dry
branches common, some plants killed; 7= Lesions as in 5,
defoliation, broken, dry branches very common, up to 25% of
plants killed; 8= symptoms as in 7 but up to 50% of the
plants killed; 9= Symptoms as in 7 but up to 100% of the
plants killed (Jan and Wiese 1991; Chen and Muehlbauer
2003; Chen et al., 2004; Sharma et al., 2005 and Pande et al.,
2011) were recorded for each field. Disease prevalence was
determined by ratio of number of locations showing chickpea
disease to total number of locations/fields. Field incidence of
each field was calculated by totaling the number of plants
with symptoms and converting to percent. The severity rating
represents an average severity for the plants examined in
each field.
Data collected from the survey was coded and checked for
consistence and completeness and analyzed using R
statistical procedures. Descriptive statistics were used to
summarize the data. Analysis was conducted by
disaggregating important relevant information by district and
region so that comparison could be made.
3. Results and Discussion
Field surveys generate knowledge on the current status of
Ascochyta blight disease prevalence, incidence and severity,
which forms the basis of priority setting in the integrated
disease management. Such knowledge is currently lacking or
outdated for chickpea Ascochyta blight pathosystem in
Ethiopia and should be updated annually. Ascochyta blight is
a serious disease, which is mostly prevalent in cool humid
weather conditions. Although the disease is prevalent in
Ethiopia, reports on its incidence and severity are scanty. In
the present survey, the estimate disease status of four regions
were made according to disease prevalence, incidence and
severity of chickpea blight.
Disease symptoms were observed early in October in few
fields. Hot and dry weather associated with the 2015/2016 El
nino arrested disease progress in all regions. Similar results
have been reported (Ahmed et al., 2008). Ascochyta blight is
epidemic (Ahmed et al., 2005; Chang et al., 2000, 2003) in
the surveyed area, and disease prevalence and severity
depends on weather conditions, including precipitation
(Chang et al., 2000, 2003), particularly relative humidity
(Trapero-Casas and Kaiser, 1992). Cloudiness and prolonged
wet weather favour rapid development and spread of the
disease. The results of this study demonstrate very low
distribution of the disease in almost all chickpea growing
areas limited by blight-unfavoured weather conditions of this
season as compared to observations in earlier seasons. The
Plant 2017; 5(1): 23-30
results obtained in this study are similar to those reported by
Chongo et al. (2002), Gurjar et al. (2010), Pande et al.
(2012), Nene et al. (2012) and Ali and Ozkan (2015).
Several symptoms were found on chickpea during the
surveys, which included lesions, wilt, foliar yellowing and
yellow stunt. These symptoms were discernible in the early
stages of development but later they became difficult to
distinguish. Lesions started occurring at vegetative stages but
later it became difficult to distinguish from moisture stress or
nutrient deficiency. Ascochyta rabiei attacked the aerial parts
of chickpea plant; on leaflets the lesions were either round or
elongated, bearing irregularly depressed brown dots
surrounded by a brownish red margin. On the green pods, the
lesions were circular with dark margins with pycnidia
arranged in concentric circles. The infected seeds had the
lesions too. Elongated, brown lesions were also observed on
the stem and petiole, which bore black dots that girdled the
affected portion. Where lesions girdled the stem, the portion
above the point of attack rapidly died. Where the main stem
was girdled at the collar region, the whole plant died. In the
fields where the disease had advanced, patches of diseased
plants were prominent in the field and slowly spread,
25
involving the entire field. Symptoms started occurring at
vegetative stage and the spread was high at flowering and
pod setting stages, varying among few observed fields.
A total of 251 farms from 83 districts were surveyed
keeping in view the disease severity, topography and
environmental conditions of these areas. Levels of Ascochyta
blight varied among crop districts, but the disease was absent
in most districts, limiting interpretation of these differences.
The prevalence of chickpea ascochyta blight in different
areas are given in Table 1 and Figure 1. We note mean
disease prevalence for the area surveyed ranged from 0 to
25 %. It is evident from the table that maximum prevalence
(25%) was recorded in Debre Brihan area followed by East
Shewa (15%). The prevalence of the disease in other
surveyed areas varied from 0 to 10%. Most of the chickpea
growing areas have not shown disease prevalence and this
indicates that the weather condition of this year was not
conducive for ascochyta blight development. In Debre Brihan
zone, particularly in Ensaro district blight disease was
moderately prevalent. The disease was more prevalent during
flowering/pod setting stage in surveyed fields (Figure 3.1).
Figure 1. Prevalence of chickpea ascochyta blight disease by growth stages in major chickpea growing regions of Ethiopia (2015).
Most of this blight prevalence at flowering/pod setting was
observed in Amhara region followed by Oromia region with
<10% (Figure 3.1). From the survey, less disease prevalence
was also observed during full podding (<10%) which varied
across surveyed areas with the exception of a few fields
which had >40% (Figure 3.1). The individual prevalence of
chickpea blight in each area is given in Table 1. The 2015/16
growing season was extremely dry throughout most of
chickpea growing areas of Ethiopia, resulting in negligible
blight disease levels.
The mean disease incidence for area surveyed ranged from
0 to 45.6 % and that of average severity varied from 1 to 3.2.
Moderate disease incidence was observed in Debre Brihan
(45.6%) area of Amhara region while low disease incidence
was observed in East Shewa (15.5%), Wolaita (9.3%), North
Shewa (5%), North Wollo (2.5%) and South Wollo (2.1%).
Particularly, in Minjar district of North Shewa Zone, the
blight disease was observed on research station with high
incidence (82%). The maximum disease severity (3.2) was
observed in East Shewa zone of Oromia region. No
ascochyta blight was observed in the surveyed areas of
Oromia region except East Shewa area. Most of the surveyed
fields showed very low levels Ascochyta blight severity
(mean < 2) (Table 1), likely due to the hot and dry weather
condition. Ascochyta blight was not observed in Tigray
region during the growing season of 2015/16. In the SNNP
26
Megersa Tadesse et al.: Survey of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) Ascochyta Blight (Ascochyta rabiei Pass.)
Disease Status in Production Regions of Ethiopia
region, ascochyta blight symptoms were observed only in
one field around November, but the distribution was low. The
same situation was reported in Canada (Chongo et al., 2002).
Besides the scanty rainfall, the temperature in all areas was
relatively high during survey period, thereby limiting the
chances of blight occurrence in these areas (Table 2). The
individual mean prevalence, incidence and severities of
chickpea blight in each areas are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Prevalence, incidence, and severity of Ascochyta blight in major chickpea growing areas of Ethiopia (2015).
Region
Zone
No. of districts
covered
Oromia
East Harage
West Harage
South West Shewa
North Shewa
Arsi
Bale
East shewa
South Gonder
North Gonder
West Gonder
East Gonder
North Shewa
North Wollo
South Wollo
Debre Brihan
Gurage
Silte
Hadiya
Wolaita
West Tigray
Central Axum
North West Tigray
North Tigray
East Tigray
South Tigray
4
3
9
1
2
3
7
5
4
2
2
5
7
1
2
3
1
1
2
3
3
5
1
3
3
Amhara
SNNP
Tigray
No. of fields
surveyed
Disease
Prevalence (%)
13
15
28
3
12
8
39
5
15
9
6
31
9
1
6
6
2
2
8
4
10
12
1
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
0
0
0
0
10
8
5
25
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
Drought was widespread in Ethiopia during 2015/16
growing season. Northern and central parts of Ethiopia
received lower amounts of rain than other areas and this was
not favourable to ascochyta blight development. Although
infection started in some fields in some regions, further
disease development was arrested due to drought conditions.
Most fields that were surveyed between October and
December were in Oromia and Amhara Region (Table 1).
Even though symptoms of ascochyta blight started at
vegetative stages in some fields, severity was generally low
in these fields, ranging from 1 to 7 (Table 3.1). Two fields in
East Shewa research sites had disease severities up to 9 on
the scale used. Majority of fields had no disease. Moderate
disease incidence observed in some districts was probably
due to cool temperature and relatively high humidity
conditions that are suitable for disease development (Pande et
Disease Incidence (%)
Range
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-84
0
0
0
0
0-82
0-15
5-40
5-86
0
0
0
56
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mean
0
0
0
0
0
0
15.5
0
0
0
0
5
2.5
2.1
45.6
0
0
0
9.3
0
0
0
0
0
0
Disease
Severity
(1-9 rating)
Range
1
1
1
1
1
1
1-7
1
1
1
1
1-4
1-3
1-3
2-5
1
1
1
1-6
1
1
1
1
1
1
Mean
1
1
1
1
1
1
3.2
1
1
1
1
1.8
1.6
1.4
2.3
1
1
1
2.0
1
1
1
1
1
1
al., 2005) and conducive to the development of the sexual
stage (Raheem et al., 2008). Debre- Birhan is a highland area
with higher altitude (2750 m.a.s.l) and high humidity
(65.91%) (Table 2) which favoured development and spread
of the pathogen in the area. Most other places were diseasefree with generally low disease incidence throughout the
country. This was most likely due to hot and dry weather
conditions brought by El Nino drought of 2015. No
Ascochyta blight infection was detected in 19 of 25 zones in
2015⁄2016. Without anticipation of the 2015/2016 drought,
and in the usual bid to avoid the disease, most chickpea
farmers planted late which also helped to limit disease
occurrence and development. Similar results were reported
by Atik et al. (2010); Chongo et al. (2002) and Ahmed et al.
(2008) who found low severity in many fields due to drought
conditions.
Table 2. Summary table showing location, altitude, latitude, longitude and climatic characteristics of the chickpea growing areas showed blight symptoms
2015/16 crop season.
Zone
No of fields
Altitude (m)
East Shewa
Debre Birhan
North Shewa
North Wollo
South Wollo
Wolaita
12
6
8
2
1
1
1763
2750
1785
2266
2316
1880
Latitude
(N)
8.68245
9.79380
8.90808
12.6256
10.8346
7.0400
Longitude
(E)
39.13644
38.91766
39.41695
39.03724
39.81012
37.9200
Rainfall
(mm)
74.94
67.56
67.57
88.49
55.84
131.39
Relative humidity
(%)
57.37
65.91
57.74
59.74
71.97
65.39
Maximum
temp (○C)
31.6
22.0
20.9
28.3
28.5
29.7
Minimum
temp (○C)
5.5
1.7
3.4
10.3
9.8
13.4
Plant 2017; 5(1): 23-30
The survey revealed that disease incidence and severity
were low but varied low from locality to locality due to hot
and dry weather conditions. Similarly, Ahmed et al. (2008)
has also reported existence of blight disease variation among
surveyed areas of Alberta which was associated to dry
conditions. The observed incidence and severity of the
disease in surveyed areas may be associated with the
presence of favorable environmental condition. Increase in
humidity favors the distribution of the pathogen (Pande et al.,
2005).
Climate data on temperature, rainfall and relative humidity
were compiled monthly for 2014/15 and 2015/16 growing
seasons (Table 3). Weather conditions for both years differed
substantially. Mean temperatures of growing seasons was
highest in 2015/16. Similarly, rainfall distribution was quite
different in both years. Mean relative humidity for 2015/16
27
was 58.71%, which was 5.52% less than that of 2014/15.
Unlike in 2015/16, the cropping season in 2014⁄2015 was
more favourable for disease development, and infections
were observed on several locations on both cultivated
chickpea varieties and wild relatives. Symptoms on chickpea
seedlings were reported around mid of September in
2014⁄2015 in central parts of Ethiopia, which was much
earlier than in this 2015/16. The widespread occurrence and
early appearance of ascochyta blight symptoms in previous
year was attributed to cool and wet weather conditions
favourable for pathogen spread and infection, to high levels
of inoculum in chickpea- production areas, and to planting of
infected seed. This finding is in agreement with that of
Chang et al. (2003) who found widespread Ascochyta blight
on chickpea.
Table 3. Monthly average rainfall, relative humidity, monthly maximum temperature and minimum temperature of 2014/15 and 2015/16 for chickpea growing
areas in Ethiopia.
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Parameter
2014/15
2015/16
2014/15
2015/16
2014/15
2015/16
2014/15
2015/16
Average Rainfall (mm)
257.10
200.34
140.52
119.06
89.95
67.64
36.76
30.67
Average Relative Humidity (%)
73.56
67.90
72.63
67.89
66.03
59.35
63.28
59.67
Maximum Temperature (°C)
28.30
31.00
28.40
29.50
28.40
30.70
29.40
30.00
Minimum Temperature (°C)
2.10
2.90
3.20
5.80
2.20
5.30
2.10
3.30
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mean
Parameter
2014/15
2015/16
2014/15
2015/16
2014/15
2015/16
2014/15
2015/16
Average Rainfall (mm)
12.88
13.87
6.46
1.96
20.17
4.18
85.6
62.5
Average Relative Humidity (%)
57.44
55.05
57.40
51.75
59.29
49.35
64.2
58.7
Maximum Temperature (°C)
29.30
29.70
29.90
31.00
31.30
32.00
29.2
31.5
Minimum Temperature (°C)
0.10
1.00
2.40
-0.20
4.10
5.20
2.3
3.3
Increasing climate variability with the change in climate is
recognized unequivocally. With the changing climate patterns
and cropping systems, host, pathogen and favourable
environment interactions are leading to diseases epidemics in
a range of crops. These three essential components are
required simultaneously for a disease to occur. Ascochyta
blight is thought to be largely influenced by microclimate of
the crop which in turn is influenced by prevailing weather
conditions. Climate variability is adding a new dimension to
managing plant diseases by altering the equilibrium of hostpathogen interactions resulting in either increased epidemic
outbreaks or new pathogens surfacing as threats or less
known pathogens causing severe yield losses (Aggarwal,
2003). Climate variability has positive and negative impacts
on host-pathogen interactions. However, climatic changes
could result changes in diseases/pathogens (Pande and
Sharma, 2010).
Associations of disease with El-Nino have been made and
indicate the potential for future epidemics if weather patterns
become more variable (Checkley et al., 2000; Rodó et al.,
2002). Plant pathogens have varying ranges of temperature
requirements that affect the various steps in disease infection
cycles such as penetration, pathogen survival, dispersal,
epidemic development, survival and sexual reproduction.
Cooler temperature and wetter conditions are associated with
increased incidence on blights in chickpea (Pande et al.,
2010; Panagga et al., 2004).
Microclimatic factors such as plant temperature, relative
humidity, rainfall, moisture, surface wetness and light
interception can affect the sporulation of fungi. Any alteration
in these factors would retard AB development. Rainfall and
high relative humidity (> 95%) are critical for most
epiphytotics, with temperature also playing an important role
in development (Shtienberg et al., 2000). When the
temperature is favourable and the moisture requirements of a
pathogen on a susceptible host are fully met, an epidemic is
likely to develop (Jhorar et al., 1998; Pande et al., 2005) which
was observed during this survey. Under favorable conditions
such as cool and moist weather (>350 mm annual rainfall, 23–
25) °C temperature and > 95% relative humidity) the disease
may cause 100% yield loss (Hassani, 1981; Nene and Reddy,
1987).
Rainfall has influence on epiphytotic and revealed that high
rainfall resulted in high chickpea blight incidence. Ketelaer et
28
Megersa Tadesse et al.: Survey of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) Ascochyta Blight (Ascochyta rabiei Pass.)
Disease Status in Production Regions of Ethiopia
al. (1988) reported monthly rainfall of 40 mm were needed
before an epidemic of AB occurred. Rain splashing may
accelerate the disease spread and keep the leaf surface wet.
Increasing leaf wetness periods increase the disease severity
(Armstrong et al., 2004). Relative humidity directly influences
sporulation by many fungi and has implication for the
persistence of wetness. Temperature has important effects on
the lifecycle of Ascochyta rabiei, the infection process, and
disease development. Ascochyta blight infection and disease
development occur in the temperature range of 5 - 30°C, with
an ideal temperature of 20°C (Trapero-Casas and Kaiser,
2007). Disease severity increased with increasing temperatures
to a maximum of 20°C, then declined sharply at temperatures
above 25-30°C. The present finding showed that ascochyta
blight occurence in 2014/15 was relatively higher than in
2015/16. The temperature and rainfall variability within the
rainfed ecologies is very high, leading to varying intensities of
moisture deficit in the country.
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4. Conclusion
Chickpea is affected by a host of different pathogens
despite its importance as the major pulse crop in Ethiopia.
Ascochyta blight disease emerging as a potential threat to
chickpea production. Basic information on the occurrences
and geographic distribution of blight disease is very
important for setting research priorities for further disease
management strategies in different agro-ecologies. The
distribution and incidence of ascochyta blight disease of
chickpea varied in each region, but incidence and severity
was generally low. Ethiopian agriculture is mostly rainfed,
whereas inter-annual and seasonal rainfall variability is high
and droughts are frequent in many parts of the country. High
incidence in some locations, such as Debre Birhan and East
Shewa are probably due to the presence of effective vectors
and environmental conditions favouring their population
buildup and movement. Depending on the environmental
conditions and the availability of alternate hosts, the
deleterious effect of blight can vary from season to season in
the same area. There is likelihood that the status of these
diseases can change to epidemic levels especially with
climate change. A detailed analysis of the climatic factors
responsible for absence of this disease needs further
investigations. This information on ascochyta blight status
will be helpful for growers for planning and administering
blight management strategies to reduce the blight populations
below their threshold levels.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank staff members of chickpea
Breeding Sections of Debre Zeit Agricultural Research
Center (DZARC) and International Crop Research Institute
for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for their assistance. The
financial support provided by Regional University Forum For
Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and
ICRISAT are also acknowledged.
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