Ascochyta Blight of Chickpeas in Nebraska

The chickpea, also known as the garbanzo bean, is an annual grain legume crop that ranks among the worlds three most important edible seeds. Chickpeas are an important source of protein in many parts of central Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean, and among food legumes, it is the most effective in reducing blood cholesterol levels. India is the largest producer, currently growing 78 percent of the world's crop, followed by Pakistan, Mexico, Turkey, and Ethiopia. The crop is native to western Asia and the Middle East, and is usually grown as a rain-fed, cool-weather crop or as a dry-climate crop in semiarid regions.

Interest in chickpea production in the United States as an alternative crop to spring cereals has increased rapidly in the Pacific Northwest where rainfall is marginal, and also in Nebraska. Currently, the leading producers in the United States are Idaho, Washington, California, and North Dakota. Due to a number of issues, including agronomic, processing and marketing constraints, production in the Central High Plains has been sporadic. However, production in Nebraska, concentrated near Alliance in Box Butte County, has increased substantially over the past seven years (1,500 acres in 2000 to almost 10,000 acres in 2006). Despite a reputation for poor yields, chickpeas have the potential for more than 4,000 lbs/acre, and production is expected to increase in the foreseeable future.