Chickpea rust

Systematic position and nature of the pathogen. Uromyces ciceris-arietini is a specialized fungal parasite belonging to the division Basidiomycota, class Pucciniomycetes, and order Pucciniales. It is an obligate biotroph, meaning it completes its life cycle only on living plant tissues, extracting essential nutrients through specialized structures known as haustoria.

Diseases and host plants. This pathogen causes the disease known as chickpea rust. It exclusively infects chickpea (Cicer arietinum) crops, posing a serious threat to yields and seed quality worldwide. The infection typically affects all aerial parts of the host plant, including leaves, stems, petioles, and pods.

Biology and life cycle. The life cycle of the fungus includes the production of urediniospores and teliospores. Urediniospores, characterized by their reddish-brown color, facilitate the rapid secondary spread of the disease during the growing season through repeated infection cycles. Toward the end of the season, dark teliospores are produced, which allow the fungus to survive under unfavorable conditions and overwinter.

Conditions for development and spread. The optimal conditions for the development of chickpea rust are moderate temperatures (ranging from +18°C to +25°C) and high air humidity, often associated with frequent rainfall or heavy dew. The spores are primarily dispersed over long distances by wind, creating new infection foci throughout the field.

Damage and control measures. The disease causes premature senescence of leaves, disruption of photosynthesis, and deformation of pods, which can lead to significant yield losses. Effective control strategies involve the use of resistant varieties, crop rotation, and strict spatial isolation of fields. Fungicide applications, specifically those containing azoles or strobilurins, are recommended as a preventative or curative measure upon the first signs of infection.

• Utilizing disease-free, high-quality seeds.
• Sanitation of crop residues to reduce primary inoculum.
• Implementing appropriate crop rotation schedules.
• Monitoring fields regularly for the presence of rust pustules.