Research Objective
To gain a better understanding of ascochyta blight resistance, specifically the underlying mechanisms at the cellular level found in the resistant cultivar CDC Frontier, and resistant annual and perennial wild chickpea accessions; to use this information to inform breeders whether and which strategies in wild species utilization in breeding programs is most promising.
Perennial accessions of C. oxyodon and C. anatolicum display strong resistance to ascochyta blight. One component of foliar resistance occurs at the plant surface, perhaps as preformed antimicrobial compounds in the cuticle. Another part of foliar resistance in the perennial accessions is a hypersensitive reaction to infection in which small necrotic lesions form, but enjoy limited expansion.