Important Disease Problems of Kabuli Chickpea

Both types of chickpeas, kabuli and dcsi, arc affcctcd by thc samc rangc of pathogcns. Discascs that arc more important in thc kabuli chickpca-growing rcpions arc: ascochyta blight (Ascocltyta rabiei), botrytis gray mould (Borryris cinerea), fusarium and vcrticillium wilts (Fusarium atysponmt and Ve~ficillirlmo lbo-atnrnt), collar and root rots (Scleroriurn mljsii, Rhizocfottia hufuricolo, Fusaritor~ solani, Rltizocrottiu sokutti and Qrhilrtrt ~rlfirr~ror~), stunt (bcan lcaf roll virus) and ncmatodcs. Whilc foliar discascs such as ascochya blight and botrytis gray mould havc hccn rcsponsiblc for devastating crops in diffcrcnt countries in ccrtain years, soil-hornc discascs such as fuaarium wilt and collar and root rots havc causcd lcss spectacular I)ut consihtcnt d;tmagc. This papcr gives LI Ijricf itccount of thc important discascs of kabuli chickpca with spccial rcfcrcncc to cconomic importance, hiolom and cpidcmiology, and control. The prcscnt status on ~hcav ;tilahili~yo f sourccs of gcnctic rcsistancc to various discascs is discussed