Survival and Pathogenicity of Ascochyta fabae f. sp. lentis in Lentil Seeds After Storage for Four Years at 20 to –196 C. Walter J. Kaiser, Research Plant Pathologist, Western Regional Plant Introduction Station, USDA-ARS, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6402. Phillip C. Stanwood, and Richard M. Hannan. Research Agronomist, USDA-ARS, National Seed Storage Laboratory (NSSL), Colorado State University, Ft. Collins 80523; and Horticulturist, Western Regional Plant Introduction Station, USDA-ARS, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6402. Plant Dis. 73:762-764. Accepted for publication 7 April 1989. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1989. DOI: 10.1094/PD-73-0762.

Survival of Ascochyta fabae f. sp. lentis in naturally infected lentil (Lens culinaris) seed was studied over 4 yr at temperatures of 20, 5, –18, and –160 to –196 C (liquid nitrogen). The pathogen was isolated from 52 to 78% of the infected seeds during the experiment. There was an 18–25% increase in the incidence of seedborne A. f. f. sp. lentis between the third and fourth years at all temperatures. Incubation of infected seeds for 4 yr at 20 to –196 C did not adversely affect the pathogenicity of the fungus to lentil. Germination of infected seeds was appreciably lower than that of healthy seeds at all temperatures on each sampling date (1 day, 1, 2, 3, and 4 yr). There was a significant reduction in germination of infected, but not of healthy, seeds at each temperature over the 4-yr period.