Improving chickpea yield by incorporating resistance to ascochyta blight

Abstract

Ascochyta blight [Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab.] is the most destructive disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), but it can be managed effectively by the use of resistant cultivars. Therefore, a breeding programme was initiated during 1977-78 at ICARDA, Syria, to breed blight-resistant, high-yielding chickpeas with other desirable agronomic traits. Crosses were made in main season at Tel Hadya, Syria, and the F1 s were grown in the off season at Terbol, Lebanon. The F 2, F 4 and F 5 generations were grown in a blight nursery in the main season where blight epidemic was artificially created. The plants and progenies were scored for blight resistance and other traits. The F 3 and F 6 generations were grown in the off season under normal day length to eliminate late-maturing plants. The pedigree method of breeding was followed initially, but was later replaced by the F4-derived family method. The yield assessment began with F 7 lines, first at ICARDA sites and later internationally. A total of 1584 ascochyta blight-resistant chickpea lines were developed with a range of maturity, plant height, and seed size not previously available to growers in the blight-endemic areas in the Mediterranean region. These included 92 lines resistant to six races of the ascochyta pathogen, and 15 large-seeded and 28 early maturity lines. New cultivars produced 33% more seed yield than the original resistant sources. The yield of chickpea declined by 340 kg ha -l, with an increase in blight severity by one class on a 1-9 scale, reaching zero yield with the 8 and 9 classes. Development of blight-resistant lines made the introduction of winter sowing possible in

Structure and pathogenic variability in Ascochyta rabiei populations on chickpea in the Canadian prairies

“…One of the greatest biotic stresses reducing potential yield in chickpea is ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei (teleomorph: Didymella rabiei syn. Mycosphaerella rabiei ) (Singh & Reddy, 1996). Given favourable environmental conditions, yield loss caused by the disease may reach 100% (Navas‐Cortés et al ., 1998).…”

Chickpea Improvement: Role of Wild Species and Genetic Markers

“…More concerted efforts at ICARDA, Syria led to the development of 92 lines resistant to all the six physiological races of A. rabiei, which have registered 33% more seed yield than the original resistant sources. Planting of these highly resistant lines in winter season increases the prospects of achieving higher yields in the Mediterranean region (Singh and Reddy, 1996). The ascochyta blight resistant breeding lines showed no association with late maturity and plant height, as a result 28 resistant lines coupled with early maturity have been developed.…”

Registration of the Chickpea Germplasm PHREC‐Ca‐Comp. #1 with Enhanced Resistance to Ascochyta Blight

“…Development of resistant cultivars is the preferred approach to controlling Ascochyta blight; however, this goal has proven elusive because resistance has not always been effective under high disease pressure or across locations, and shifts in levels of resistance have been observed over time or as plants mature (Singh and Reddy, 1996; Akem, 1999; Jayakumar et al, 2005). An integrated approach that combines all agronomic options, including cultivar selection, is recommended to economically and effectively manage this disease (Gan et al, 2006).…”