Abstract
Abstract
Ascochyta
blight is one of the most devastating diseases in chickpea-growing regions. Yield losses due to this disease can reach up to 100% in fields where susceptible genotypes are cultivated. To mitigate these impacts, resistant or tolerant varieties are recommended for effective disease control. However,
Ascochyta rabiei
, the causal pathogen, has the capacity to evolve into new pathotypes due to its genetic variability. Therefore, identifying novel sources of resistance is crucial for breeding programs. In Türkiye, four distinct pathotypes of
Ascochyta rabiei
are known, which differ in aggressiveness, with Pathotype IV being the most virulent. In this study, 159 wild accessions of
C. reticulatum
and
C. echinospermum
, together with seven
C. arietinum
genotypes comprising six registered cultivars and one desi-type genotype, were phenotypically screened against four
A. rabiei
pathotypes to evaluate their resistance responses. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p C. reticulatum
accession collected from Savur, Mardin, demonstrated resistance to all pathotypes, making it a valuable candidate for further research. Future studies will focus on elucidating the genetic background of these promising genotypes to support their integration into breeding programs aimed at enhancing resistance against
Ascochyta
blight.