Chickpea is considered as one of the most important sources of proteins in many developing countries including Iraq. Didymella rabiei, causing ascochyta blight disease on chickpea, is a destructive pathogen on chickpea in the north of the Iraq (Kurd istan region). Detailed knowledge about the genetic diversity and pathogenicity of the pathogens is neces sary to adopt appropriate disease control and manage ment strategies. For the purposes of this study, a com bination of phenotypic and genotypic characterizations including simple sequence repeat (SSR) fngerprinting, mating-types distribution and pathogenicity analyses were used to assess a total of 145 D. rabiei isolates collected from chickpea felds in the Sulaymaniyah provincial region of northern Iraq in 2020. Our results revealed a relatively high level of genetic diversity (H=0.66) within populations, with low diferentiation among populations. These fndings together with mat ing types which were found in a 50:50 ratio, suggest the role of sexual reproduction in the fungus, primar ily as primary inoculums of D. rabiei which are likely ascospores (sexual spores). On the contrary, the exist ence of gene exchanges through either the movement of infected seeds or plant debris is most probably the main mechanism in reduction of diferentiation among populations. Hence, the use of certifed chickpea seeds and removing plant debris are recommended for efec tive management of the disease.
