NSW DPI plant pathologist Kevin Moore has warned that while the focus is on the prospect of high pressures from fungal disease in this year’s chickpea crops, there are other diseases that could cause more damage.
“The breakdown in resistance to ascochyta blight (AB) is a concern, but with fungal disease we have the products to treat them in-crop.
“For soil-borne diseases such as sclerotinia and phytophthora there aren’t those options once the crop is planted.”
Dr Moore said conditions favoured outbreak of the two soil-borne diseases this season.
“We had a big plant of chickpeas last year and there were wet conditions, which have allowed inoculum to build up in the soil, which means it would be no surprise at all if there are infestations this year, particularly if the conditions are favourable for the diseases.”
He said growers needed to think past simply fungal disease concerns when considering chickpea on chickpea rotations, which many northern growers, tempted by new crop contracts in excess of $1000/t, are planning to implement this season
“You might think you will run the gauntlet on increased levels of fungal disease caused by planting back to back chickpeas and back your fungicides in to control disease pressure, but the problems could come in if it is these soil-borne diseases that take hold.”
“I can see the logic of farmers wanting to grow as many chickpeas as possible, given the prices, but you need to know the risks as well.”
Dr Moore said any period of saturated soils would raise the risk of soil-borne diseases.
“If the profile is full, it could only need half an inch (12.5mm) and the soil will be saturated and the plant becomes susceptible to root rot (phytophthera).”
Sclerotinia, also known as white mould, can cause significant damage to chickpea crops, in particular Desi types.
Affected plants often wilt and die rapidly, often without turning yellow.
Phytophthera is more damaging in the northern chickpea zone. Symptoms include dying roots and lesions on the bottom of the plant.