Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab. is one of the most important pathogens of Cicer arietinum L. in most Mediterranean areas, where it can cause extremely severe yield losses, particularly when chickpeas are winter-sown. Race 6, to which all the differentials are susceptible, seems to be rather common. International cooperation is needed to define a suitable set of differential varieties and to standardize the testing techniques. On these bases breeding programmes for resistance could achieve reliable results. Seed multiplication schemes including seed-health testing are strongly recommended in order to prevent the spread of ascochyta blight.