Constant evolutionary pressure acting on pathogens refines their molecular strategies to attain successful pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that pathogenicity mechanisms of necrotrophic fungi are far more intricate than earlier evaluated. However, only a few studies have explored necrotrophic fungal pathogens. Ascochyta rabiei is a necrotrophic fungus that causes devastating blight disea...

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a cool season grain legume grown on a surface of 11 million ha with worldwide production of about 9 million tons [1], is cultivated in more than 45 countries throughout the world including Iran where it is grown mostly in rainfed areas and on marginal lands in the province of West Azarbayjan. Ascochyta blight is perhaps the most frequent and damaging disease of chick...

Strains of Ascochyta rabiei which are pathogenic to chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) readily catabolized the main chickpea isoflavone biochanin A (5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone). 3'-Hydroxylation and O-demethylation reactions led to the isoflavones pratensein, genistein, and orobol, which were rapidly further degraded. Dihydrogenistein and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid were also identified as ca...