REACTION OF GRAM (CICER ARIETINUM L.) VARIETIES AGAINST GRAM BLIGHT DISEASE (DIDYMELLA RABIEI (KOVATSCH.) ARX) AND ITS MANAGEMENT THROUGH FOLIAR FUNGICIDES IN RAIN FED AREAS OF PAKISTAN

This research work was conducted to evaluate the Cicer arietinum L. varieties which are commonly sown all around Pakistan for the source of resistance / susceptibility to gram blight disease caused by Didymella rabiei (Kovatsch.) and fungicides were also evaluated against the disease. For this purpose twenty four approved varieties were screened against Ascochyta rabiei disease and it was found that all the varieties showed different levels of disease development. Out of twenty four varieties none of the varieties was found to be immune or highly susceptible. Only three varieties i.e. Thal-2006, Dasht and Vanher-2000 were found to be resistant against the disease. Seven varieties showed moderate resistance to disease. Eight varieties were moderately susceptible while six showed susceptible behavior to the fungus. The effectiveness of fungicides used to control the disease was different but there was a significant reduction in disease when the fungicides were sprayed on the diseased plant. To identify the effectiveness of different fungicides, five varieties with different level of resistance and susceptibility were sown separately and were sprayed by the fungicides after disease development. The effectiveness of fungicides differed with varying level of resistance among the varieties against the disease. The most effective fungicide in controlling the disease in descending order was chlorothalonil, difenaconazole, mancozeb, metalxyl + Mancozeb and thiophanate-methyl. Among them Chlorothalonil was most efficient against the disease while Topsin-M was the least effective fungicides.