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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #351473
Research Project: Management of Priority Legume, Oilseed, Vegetable, Forage Grass, Sugar, Ornamental, and Medicinal Plant Genetic Resources and Associated Information

Location: Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research

Title: Ascochyta blight of faba bean

Author
item Dugan, Frank
item Landry, Erik
item Hu, Jinguo

Submitted to: WSU Extension Bulletin
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/24/2017
Publication Date: 5/1/2018
Citation: Dugan, F.M., Landry, E.J., Hu, J. 2018. Ascochyta blight of faba bean. WSU Extension Bulletin. FS302E pp 1-4.

Interpretive Summary: This fact sheet provides information on Ascochyta blight of faba bean for commercial growers and home gardeners. Faba bean (Vicia faba, also known as fava bean, broad bean) has been grown in the ancient Near East (present day Iraq, Syria and neighboring countries) since the Neolithic (about 8,000 BC). Faba bean is now grown world-wide, but is relatively novel to the United States, where it is grown on small to medium scale farms, or by gardeners. Increasingly seen at farmers markets in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), faba bean is marketed primarily to immigrant or ethnic consumers but has potential for wider popularity. Faba bean is grown in the relatively mild climate of the coastal PNW, but selection of cold-hardy breeding lines has expanded the potential of faba bean for the Palouse region of Washington and Idaho, already famous for production of cool season legumes (pea, chickpea and lentil). This publication describes the identification, life cycle and management of Ascochyta fabae, the fungal plant pathogen causing ascochyta blight of faba bean.

Technical Abstract: Following the recent first report of Ascochyta fabae on faba bean (Vicia faba) in the United States (from Washington State, Dugan et al., Plant Health Progress, in press), and concurrent with the expanding production of faba bean in the Pacific Northwest of the United States (including cold-resistant varieties originating from USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station), this Fact Sheet (Washington State University Extension) was authored for the benefit of commercial producers and home gardeners. Identification of the fungal pathogen (pycnidia, conidia), symptoms of infection (lesions with pycnidia on leaves and stem), life cycle of the fungus (sexual and asexual states) and management options (disease-free seed, seed testing, early monitoring, crop rotation, destruction or plowing-under of post-harvest residue, and other options) are concisely described.