rather than only in the testing of technologies
CASE 3: Integrated Management of Chickpea Ascochyta Blight in Syria
Goal:
To contribute to stabilize/increase incomes of winter-sown chickpea farmers by introducing an integrated management package to control Ascochyta blight
Problem diagnosis:
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the second important cool season food legume grown in Syria, after lentil. Results showed that chickpea yield can be doubled if the crop is sown early in the season so it can profit from January and February rainfall (winter-sown chickpea). Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei is recognized as the main biotic constraint facing winter chickpea, in CWANA, if favorable conditions (wet weather and mild temperatures) prevail. The disease can spread in epidemic form and results in 100% yield loss, especially on local non-improved cultivars.
Efforts in breeding winter-sown chickpeas for Ascochyta blight resistance at ICARDA culminated in the development of a number of elite lines with acceptable levels of resistance/tolerance to the pathogen. Some of these, such as 'Ghab 2,' 3, 4 and 5 have been released by the Syrian national program. However, because of insufficiency of seeds of new varieties and the profitability of winter-sowing, farmers sometimes use the old local varieties in winter sowing, resulting in complete disaster.
ICARDA has also worked out an integrated management package to complement the genetic resistance and protect the crop. Components of this package include:
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Crop rotation to avoid fields with infected debris
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Delayed sowing to the first fortnight of January
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Sowing certified seeds of the new varieties, obtained
by the Syrian General Organization for Seed Multiplication (GOSM)
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Seed dressing
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Controlling weeds and using a reasonable seeding rate (100 to 120 kg/ha) instead of 180 kg/ha to avoid high plant density conducive of excessive humidity within the plant canopy |
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Apply a preventive spray of chlorothalonil at the vegetative stage and repeat it once more, if weather conditions are conducive to disease development |
Objectives:
Help farmers control chickpea blight (Ascochyta rabiei) especially in winter sown chickpea and increase profits
Activities:
Field demonstrations were carried out, by ICARDA and the Syrian national program, in key chickpea growing locations with farmers' participation, at a community levels (Izaz, Idlib and El-Ghab) to demonstrate the benefit of the package.
Plots demonstrated included following treatments:
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Newly released varieties with and without seed dressing
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Local check with and without seed dressing
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One foliar spray at vegetative stage
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With or without an extra spray 2 weeks at the advent
of cool front
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Measurements:
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Disease severity at the flowering time
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Seed yield
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Seed quality
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Results:
Newly released varieties with seed dressing and 1 or 2 foliar sprays out yielded the control by 2-3 fold. Results were demonstrated to neighboring farmers through field days. The research was conducted with individuals and their neighbors. Farmers contracting GOSM adopted the package and obtained prime price for their produce.
Time table:
The research has continued since 2000 growing season. New chemicals are planned to be tested in 2004 for foliar spray to update the package.
