Abstract

Pathogenic determination of sixteen Ascochyta rabies isolates obtained from seven different provinces of western north of Algeria was the aim of this study. The pathotypes and physiological races were determined using seven differential chickpea lines (ILC1929, F8, ICC1903, ILC247, ILC482, ILC3279 and ICC3996). All isolates were classified into three pathotypes and six physiological races according to their aggressiveness and virulence, respectively. We found only one isolate (6.25%) from pathotype I (the least aggressive), 12 isolates (75%) from pathotype II (moderate aggressive) and three isolates (18.75%) from pathotype III (highly aggressive). Four races of A. rabiei were determined in this region (races 1, 4, 5 and 6). Races 1 and 2 were established in pathotype I, race 4 was represented by the pathotype II, and pathotype III included the two races 5 and 6, which were virulent isolates.

Key words: Ascochyta rabiei, Cicer arietinum, pathotypes, physiological races, aggressiveness, virulence.