Genotypic influences on the incidence of infection by <i>Ascochyta fabae</i> in winter‐hardy faba beans ( <i>Vicia faba</i> )

Abstract

Variation in resistance to Ascochyta fabae among winter‐hardy genotypes of faba bean was demonstrated in artificially inoculated field trials. The incidence of seed infection after harvest was strongly correlated with both foliar and pod infection. Joint regression of the incidence of pod infection on flowering date and length of straw accounted for 33–56% of the variance but this largely reflected the behaviour of the entries with a determinate habit which were very susceptible and sensitive to infection by A. fabae. Two indeterminate lines which were similar to each other in flowering date and straw length contrasted greatly in the incidence of foliar and pod infection.