ChileanJAR

During the 1980-81 season a disease on lentils was detected in the dry-land coastal area of the VI Region, it, Chile. Plants showed whitish spots on leaves surrounded by a dark brown ring. These spots were mainly located at the edges of the leaves. A partial or complete detoliation, starting from the base of the plants, was observed. Picnidia on leaves, stems, and pods were also seen. Ascochyta lentis Bond. and Vassil. was isolated from plants showing the aboye symptoms. The fungus was grown in PDA 2%, where it formed abundant picnidia, which contained hyaline, bicelular conidia. Lentil seedlings of approximately two weeks oid were artificially inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus, and consecuently field symptoms were reproduced, including the formation of picnidia. A. lentis was consistently recovered from the inoculated plants.