PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Ascochyta rabiei ISOLATES FROM VARIOUS CHICKPEA AREAS ACROSS IKR, IRAQ

From 2017 to 2019, 51 A. rabiei isolates were isolated from 259 chickpea fields across IKR. On different media, 32 showed significant differences in morphological characteristics. The divided into six groups based on colony color, five mycelium color and three pycnidia color. CSMDA was the best media for mycelial growth. AS-28 significantly surpassed all other diameter despite type. growth varied between 15-35°C, maximum occured at 25°C ceased 35°C. mean conidia pycnedia dimensions AS-19 AS-9 ranged 20.0*7.5μm 70.8*47.9μm 21.8*9.0μm 140.7*93.6μm AS-11 AS-18 respectively. classified four 15 races pathogenicity virulence. Race 1 exhibited high aggressiveness virulence against differentials, whereas explored variable spectrum. Sulaimani had greatest diversity, with nine accounting 60% of population, followed by Erbil (33%). Halabja Garmian each contribute two races, 20% 12% total. Races 4 5 most populous widely spread ITS region amplified a541bp band isolates. length nucleotide sequences 481 541bp. registered NCBI Gen Bank under accession numbers. phylogenetic tree clearly shows that are grouped one cluster have a degree similarity.