Phytopatometric Response of Chickpea (Cicer Acridinium L.) Genotypes Against Ascochyta Blight (Ascochyta Rabi) Disease at West Belesa Districts, Northwestern Ethiopia.

Ascochyta blight is a serious disease in chickpeas, can cause up to 100% yield loss. This study focuses on phytopatometric response of chickpea genotypes against Ascochyta blight, using 75 backcrossed disease resistance accessions and six varieties with local check. Experiments were conducted in a 2 m x 0.6 m plots area, the spacing was 30 cm, 10 cm inter, and intra–row spacing respectively with each plot having two rows, between plots 0.3m, and between block 1m. Laboratory and greenhouse conditions on chickpea seedlings development, the study analyzed by using SAS software and Minitab’s disease data from Ascochyta plants scored in a lattice design, revealing a wide range of responses from resistance to highly susceptible reactions. The average severity index ranged from (16-25.5%), DZ-2012–CK-0253 (16.6), ICCU-92219 (20%), ICCU-91212(21.11%), Eshete (21.11%), ICCU-13617 (22.22%), Natoli (25.54%), and DZ-2012-CK-0039 (25.5%), for resistance genotypes, with moderately resistance genotypes ranging from (31.5-52.54%) ICCMABCD-20 (31.583) MABC-2 (36.39) ICCU-13602 (38.05) ICCV-14106 (43.89) MABC-11(50.20) FLIP-2010-24C (51.74) ICCMABCD-23 (52.54). Moderately susceptible genotypes ranged from 56.8–100%. In general, 9% resistance 9%, moderately resistant, 2% moderately susceptible, 20% susceptible, and 45% highly susceptible were found, but none of the tested genotypes was highly resistant or immune. The study suggests high yielder and new sources of resistance and moderate resistance against Ascochyta diseases those genotypes are used for next to breeding programs whereas Eshete directly used as varieties in areas having incidence of these diseases