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Proceedings of the Workshop on AscochytaBlight and Winter Sowing of Chickpeas(Saxena. M.C
and Singh. K.B.. eds.), ICARDA, 4-7 Met' 1981, Aleppo, Syria
Role of Fungicides in the Management of
Ascochyta Blight of Chictkpea
S.B. HANOUNIK and M.V. REDDY
Plant Pathologist, Tobacco Rcsearch Institute, Lattakia, Syria and Pulse Pathologist,
ICRISAT, Patancheru P.O., A.P 502 324, India, respectively
Traditionally the use of fungicides in igriculture has been popular with crops
which give high economic returns. Their use in rainfed agriculture with low and
unreliable yields has been very much limited. In crops such as chickpea, at the
present yield levels, the best way of controlling the diseases is through cultivars
with durable resistance. In developing countries where sufficient food buffers
have not yet been built up, stability of yield becomes all the more essential
because the consequences of "boom-and-bust" cycles of production associated
with cultivars with vertical resistance genes can be more disastrous. Development
of cultivars with durable resistance and with all other desirable charactcrs
is a time consuming process, or even may not be possible in the near future.
Therefore, integrated use ofeultivars with vertical resistance and fungicides may
help in both increasing and stabilizing production. This paper discusses the
possible role of fungicides it!the management of ascochyta blight of chickpea as
seed dressings, foliar protectants in combination with resistant genotypes, or as
stop-gap arrangements whenever the resistance loses its effectivity, and as shortterm
alternatives to resistant cultivars.
Se Dressings
it crops such as chickpea, at the present yield levels, fungicides can only be
feasible and economical when used as seed dressings. The highly seed-borne
nature of Ascochyta rabieiin chickpea makes fungicidal seed-treatments essential
and useful (Gobeleg 1956; Halfon-Meiri 1970; Khachatryan 1961; Lukashevich
1958; Luthra and Bedi 1932; Maden et al. 1975; Sattar 1933; Zachos 1952).
Treatment of seeds with effective fungicides can greatly help in reducing the
initial inoculum level and preventing the spread of the disease or races into areas
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