Discovery of <i>Didymella fabae</i> sp. nov., the teleomorph of <i>Ascochyta fabae</i> , on faba bean straw

Abstract

The teleomorph of Ascochyta fabae has been recorded for the first time on overwintering bean straw of Viciafaba in Cambridge. Single ascospores gave rise to typical cultures of A. fabae, the conidia of which infected faba bean plants to give ascochyta blight. Comparison with similar fungi described from Vicia spp. indicated that this is an undescribed species. The name Didymella fabae Jellis &amp; Punith. is introduced for this teleomorph and its significance in the epidemiology of the disease is discussed.