I - --ii

anean region where chickpea is spring-sown, the reliance on the part of most
scientists and farmers so far has been on "avoidance" of the disease by sowing the
crop towards the end of the rainy season rather than searching for resistant
material. The identification of a large number of desi and kabuli lines with a very
high degree of resistance in wide geographic regions and sustained breeding
efforts by the international centers and national programs should result in the
development of blight-resistant, high- yielding cultivars in the very near future.
Summary
During 1978-81, 3367 chickpea kabuli germplasm lines maintained at ICARDA
Center were screened for resistance to ascochyta blight. Twenty-two of these
(0.65%) lines were resistant: ILC 72, 182, 183, 187, 191, 194, 200, 201, 202, 236,
482, 484, 2380, 2506, 2548, 2956, 3001, 3279, 3340, 3342, 3346 and 3400.
Screening of 6005 desi germplasm lines maintained at ICRISAT Center revealed
655 lines to be resistant to moderately resistant. The lines with rating 2
were ICC 3606, 3912, 3916, 3918, 3919, 3921, 3932, 3940, 3996, 4107, 4192,
4472 and 4475. Most of the kabuli resistant lines originated from the USSR,
Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, the regions believed to be the center of origin of
chickpea. Most of the desi resistant lines originated from Iran, India, Turkey and
Pakistan and were found to be of black-seed type. More search for resistance in
black-seeded type from these regions may result in greater success.
The results of Chickpea International Ascochyta Blight Nursery (CIABN)
conducted for 3 years in Syria, Lebanon, Tirkey, Algeria and Pakistan revealed
six lines, namely, ILC 72, 191, 194, 202, 3279 and Pch 15 to be resistant across
locations and years. These lines appear to have location nonspecific resistance
and will be useful in breeding program. The differential reaction of some lines in
9 out of 10 locations tested indicates the presence of different races. Results of
CIABN-Desi indicated five lines to be resistant in Syria and Pakistan. Some lines
found resistant to fusarium wilt and stunt at ICRISAT Center were found
resistant also to blight. Four of the ascochyta blight resistant lines were also
found resistant to botrytis grey mold under field conditions in Pakistan.
References
AHMAD, T., HASANAIN, S.Z. and SATIAR, A. 1949. Some popular methods of plant disease
control in Pakistan. Agr. Pakistan 1:18-22.
ANONYMOUS.1931. Plant pathology - Rapport sur le functionnement de l'inst-des Rccherches
Agron. pendant 'annee 1930. 9:41 1-455.
ANONYMOUS. 1938. Plant diseases. Rep. Dep. Agr. Punjab, 1936-37. pp. 52-56.
ANONYMOUS.1949. Annual Administrative Report of the Development of Agriculture, United
Provinces, for the year 1947-48. 88pp.
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