It also stains the seed, resulting in downgrading or rejection. Economic Thresholds Control Tips Host Crops Lentils, field peas and fababeans Biology The spores overwinter on crop residues and do not survive in soil. The disease is carried on the seed or infected stubble. Ascochyta spores, formed in fruiting bodies on infected crop debris, can be spread by wind to neighbouring fields. Later in the summer and within fields, it is mainly spread by splashing rain.
Infected plants produce infected seed and stubble.
Wet weather in late summer can result in extensive pod and seed infection. Symptoms of Damage Light-grey to tan coloured spots and lesions appear on the leaves, pods, and stems. The leaf spots are usually white to purplish in colour. They have indefinite margins and are round to irregular shape. The lesions have a dark- brown margin.