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labor involved; (c) limited export possiblities due to competitive prices prevailing
in the international market.
Ascochyta Blight
Although ascochyta blight is listed among the diseases attacking chickpea in
Cyprus, its importance is minimal. The first record of its occurrence described
the disease as causing appreciable economic losses, very destructive on local
cultivars and apparently of recent introduction, when referring to its appearance
in April 1954 at the Central-North part of Cyprus (Gregoriou and Papadopoulos
1957). It was further stated that some resistant cultivars tested locally, showed
considerable promise. There appear to be no other records of occurrence or
severe epidemics of the disease, nor of any substantial yield losses in Cyprus.
Consequently no research program on ascochyta blight was undertaken in the
past, or is in progress at present.
Various production factors in Cyprus may be responsible for the near elimination
of the disease: (a) spring sowing with rising temperatures and low rainfall
normally falling on isolated days, does i -t favor its spread, (b) chickpea stubbles
are removed from the field and used as livestock feed thus leaving no debris to
carry the disease, (c) scattered fields of small area make it impossible for the
disease to spread from one field to another, and (d) chickpea is grown in rotation
w;th other crops which prevents the carry-over of the disease from season to
season. All these factors seem to have led to a considerable depletion of the
available amount of disease inoculum.
Winter Sowing
Winter sowing is not practised now on a commercial scale. If it proves to be a
feasible and profitable practice, it can be expected that a big percentage of the
spring-sown area will be converted to winter sowing.
Strategy for Introducing Winter Sowing
The advantage of winter sowing over spring sowing must first be established
beyond any doubt. From preliminary trials it is evident that there are yield
increases in both grain and straw of chickpea when sown in early winter, as
compared with spring sowing. No frost damage or ascochyta incidence were
recorded; plants survived through the winter but flowers did not produce pods
until after the beginning of ApriL. This resulted in thn lowest pods being higher
above the ground than with spring-sown plants, which isan advantage as regards
combine harvesting. Weed control is a problem with winter sowing. Chemical
weed control trials are in progress and there are promising results.