What Is Making My Chickpeas Sickly?

Are there singular, or closely grouped circular to irregularly shaped holes in the foliage?

Do the leaves have wandering, white or translucent tunnels in them?

Are the leaves curled and yellow?

Are the seedlings clipped off at the soil line?

Are there water-soaked, pale spots on young leaves which enlarge rapidly under cool, wet conditions?

Does the plant wilts, leaves turning brown or pale yellow?

Are the seedlings dying and the stems are girdled or rotted at soil line?

Are the plants rapidly wilting and dying, often without turning yellow, small black fungal bodies may be present on the surface of the root just below the soil line?

Beet armyworm is a serious pest of chickpea. This insect can go through 3–5 generations a year. Organic methods of controlling armyworms include biological control by natural enemies that parasitize the larvae and the application of BTK spray (Bacillus thuringiensis).

These symptoms indicate Chickpea leafminers. These tiny white, maggotlike larvae feed inside leaves. Prune off and destroy all infested leaves. Cover plants with row cover until flowers open to prevent adults from laying eggs on plants. Certain nematodes can attack leafminer larvae inside leaf tunnels.

Cowpea aphids cause this type of damage. These aphids are black. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted, and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

If the seedlings of your plants are cut off at the soil level, most likely culprits are Black cutworms or Winter cutworms. These caterpillars feed at night by cutting off young plants and sometimes eating them whole. During the day, they are hidden below the soil surface. Control them by introducing parasitic nematodes to the ground. Using BTK spray on the ground will also control their numbers.

Ascochyta blight is a fungal disease caused by Ascochyta rabiei. Disease emergence is favored by wet weather. Spores are carried to new plants by wind and water splash. Apply fungicide at early podding to ensure high-quality seed. More susceptible varieties may require a first fungicide application approximately 4-6 weeks after sowing.

These symptoms are most likely caused by Fusarium wilt. There is no cure for Fusarium wilt, so the infected plants should be destroyed. Do not plant chickpeas or any susceptible plants to Fusarium wilt in the same spot for several years.

If your seedlings are falling over and the stems are girdled or rotted at the soil line, the most likely cause is a damping-off disease. Remove and destroy all infected plants. To prevent damping-off let the soil surface dry between waterings, thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding and do not add nitrogen fertilizers until plants have developed leaves.

Sclerotinia stem rot (white mold) is a fungal disease that causes these symptoms. Wet weather conditions favor this disease. The disease is usually introduced to non-infected areas by infected seed. Plant only certified seed. If the disease is known to present rotate crops with non-hosts such as cereals.

Chickpeas are susceptible to several kinds of root rot. If your plant shows signs of decaying roots, root rot may be a possibility. Choose well-drained sites when planting. Add organic matter to improve soil drainage. Remove and discard infected plants and the surrounding soil.