Fungicide Needed For Resistant Chickpeas

SYDNEY - Jun 20/08 - SNS -- Ascochyta resistant chickpeas still need to be treated with fungicide to prevent the disease from compromising those plants, especially with the increased areas seen in Australia this year.

Chickpea growers in the northern agriculture region in the state of Western Australia have been urged to turn their attention to controlling the fungal disease ascochyta blight -- especially with increased plantings this year.

Department of Agriculture and Food development officer Wayne Parker said many chickpeas had grown out of any protection provided by fungicidal seed coatings and it was now time for farmers to consider fungicide applications.

"The ascochyta blight spore load will be low because there have not been substantial chickpea plantings in the last four years for ascochyta blight disease loads to increase," he said. "As a result, infection levels in crops will be low, most likely undetectable without thorough examination of the crop."

Parker said farmers should help prevent any build up of ascochyta blight by applying the appropriate fungicide management for the chickpea varieties.

"The variety Genesis 510, with an R resistant rating, requires only one application of fungicide to maintain yield potential," he said. "Genesis 836, MR, moderately resistant, requires two applications to maintain yield. Genesis 836 should receive a preventative spray of Bravo, one liter per hectare four weeks after emergence, with the second during podding for best use of the two fungicide timings."

Parker said department trial results indicated when using one fungicide application in Genesis 510 crops, spraying at four weeks after emergence gave greater yield than using this spray during podding.

"The benefit of an early spray is in keeping disease load low allowing the crop unrestricted growth," he said.

Parker said confidence in growing chickpeas in the northern agricultural region had been restored, as a result of successful new disease resistant varieties and ideal sowing conditions.

"Numerous small bulk-up crops were sown throughout the northern wheatbelt following rain in March and April and many of these crops are now out of the ground and growing vigorously on the stored soil moisture and warm May conditions," he said. "If farmers can stay on top of the disease risk, it could well be a good crop."