Blight refers to a specific symptom affecting plants in response to infection by a pathogenic organism.
Ascochyta tritici is a fungal plant pathogen that causes Ascochyta leaf spot on barley, wheat and maize.
Ascochyta is a genus of ascomycete fungi, containing several species that are pathogenic to plants, particularly cereal crops. The taxonomy of this genus is still incomplete. The genus was first described in 1830 by Marie-Anne Libert, who regarded the spores as minute asci and the cell contents as spherical spores. Numerous revisions to the members of the genus and its description were made for the next several years. Species that are plant pathogenic on cereals include, A. hordei, A. graminea, A. sorghi, A. tritici. Symptoms are usually elliptical spots that are initially chlorotic and later become a necrotic brown. Management includes fungicide applications and sanitation of diseased plant tissue debris.
Didymella pinodes is a hemibiotrophic fungal plant pathogen and the causal agent of ascochyta blight on pea plants. It is infective on several species such as Lathyrus sativus, Lupinus albus, Medicago spp., Trifolium spp., Vicia sativa, and Vicia articulata, and is thus defined as broadrange pathogen.
Didymella rabiei, commonly called chickpea ascochyta blight fungus, is a fungal plant pathogen of chickpea. Didymella rabiei is the teleomorph of Ascochyta rabiei, which is the anamorph, but both names are the same species.
Ascochyta asparagina is a fungal plant pathogen. It causes stem blight of asparagus, causing loss or death of branches.
Stagonosporopsis trachelii is a fungal plant pathogen that causes Ascochyta leaf spot in Campanula species.
Ascochyta fabae f.sp. lentis is a plant pathogen that causes ascochyta blight on lentil.
Ascochyta pisi is a fungal plant pathogen that causes ascochyta blight on pea, causing lesions of stems, leaves, and pods. These same symptoms can also be caused by Ascochyta pinodes, and the two fungi are not easily distinguishable.
Ascochyta sorghi is a fungal plant pathogen. It causes Ascochyta leaf spot on barley that can also be caused by the related fungi Ascochyta hordei, Ascochyta graminea and Ascochyta tritici. It is considered a minor disease of barley.
Ascochyta spinaciae is a fungal plant pathogen that causes leaf spot of spinach.
Ascochyta doronici is a fungal plant pathogen that causes leaf spot on African daisy.
Ascochyta prasadii is a plant pathogen that causes leaf spot and stem cankers on hemp.
Ascochyta humuli is a plant pathogen that causes leaf spot on hops.
Ascochyta caricae is a fungal plant pathogen that causes dry rot on papaya.
Ascochyta fabae is a plant pathogen.
Ascochyta hordei is a plant pathogen that causes Ascochyta leaf spot on barley and wheat. ALS of barley can also be caused by other Ascochyta including A. graminea, A. sorghi, and A. tritici. It is considered a minor disease.
Barley, a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally. It was one of the first cultivated grains; it was domesticated in Eurasia some 9,000 years ago. Globally 70% of barley production is used as animal fodder, while 30% as a source of fermentable material for beer, or further distilled into whisky, and as a component of various foods. It is used in soups and stews, and in barley bread of various cultures. Barley grains are commonly made into malt in a traditional and ancient method of preparation.
Ascochyta blights occur throughout the world and can be of significant economic importance. Three fungi contribute to the ascochyta blight disease complex of pea. Ascochyta pinodes causes Mycosphaerella blight. Ascochyta pinodella causes Ascochyta foot rot, and Ascochyta pisi causes Ascochyta blight and pod spot. Of the three fungi, Ascochyta pinodes is of the most importance. These diseases are conducive under wet and humid conditions and can cause a yield loss of up to fifty percent if left uncontrolled. The best method to control ascochyta blights of pea is to reduce the amount of primary inoculum through sanitation, crop-rotation, and altering the sowing date. Other methods—chemical control, biological control, and development of resistant varieties—may also be used to effectively control ascochyta diseases.
