Ascochyta blight of lentils

The fungus may either be seed borne or survive on infected stubble from previous diseased crops. While the disease can become established as a result of sowing infected seed, it may also infect new crops when spores of the fungus from infected stubble are carried by the wind from old lentil paddocks. Infection can occur at any stage of plant growth, however, moisture is essential. Cool wet weather promotes sporulation, spore dispersal and infection. Secondary spread within crops occurs when spores produced on diseased plants are carried by wind and rainsplash onto neighbouring plants. Heavy rainfall late in the season provides ideal conditions for pod infection and subsequent seed discolouration.