Effect of level of Ascochyta seed-borne infection on pea plants grown in cultivated and virgin soils

Pea seeds were shown to be an important source of Ascochyta blight in Egypt. The level of Ascochyta seed-borne infection had an impact on disease severity of the growing plants. Using seed samples having a high level of Ascochyta infection (34 and 32%) and grown in cultivated soil resulted in significant blight infection, seed infection and significant reduction in seed yield of the new crop. However using seed samples having a moderate infection level (10%) resulted in low blight infection, low seed infection (1%) with comparable seed yield as that produced from disease-free seeds. On the other hand, in the virgin soil the impact of level of Ascochyta seed-borne infection was more pronounced as blight infection on leaves, stems, pods seed infection and seed yield all were significant whether high or moderate level of seed-borne infection was used.