The lesions reduce yield by weakening the plant. If the disease hits early, the flowers will drop off before pods can be produced, further reducing the yield. The disease is carried on the seed or infected stubble. Ascochyta spores can be spread by wind to neighbouring fields. It is also spread by rain splash.
Infected plants produce infected seed and stubble where the spores overwinter.
Splashing rain is the main means of plant to plant spread of the disease. Control Follow a 3-5 year crop rotation away from pulse crops. Plant disease-free seed with a Certificate of Seed Analysis from a government accredited laboratory that states this is so. Plant seeds which were grown under dry weather conditions. Encourage crop residue to rot, bury it deeply or remove it.