New faba bean germplasm with multiple resistances to Ascochyta blight, chocolate spot and rust diseases

Faba bean is one of the oldest crops that
originated in the Fertile Crescent and is now distributed
around the world and produced under different
agro-climatic conditions. It is mainly cultivated in
high rainfall and irrigated areas which are favorable
for the development of foliar diseases causing severe
crop losses. The purpose of this study was to identify
new sources of resistance to the three key foliar
diseases. A total of 2000 accessions, breeding lines
and populations were screened for resistance to
chocolate spot, Ascochyta blight and rust diseases
from 2005 to 2012, at Lattakia Station, Syria. A total
of 30 lines combining Ascochyta blight, chocolate
spot and rust resistance were identified from accessions
collected from China, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon and
Spain. These new sources of resistance will enhance
the development of faba bean breeding lines with
combined resistance to the three foliar diseases.