Surveys for root rot and pathogens in pea and lentil in Saskatchewan in 2017

In 2017, 97 pea and 83 lentil fields were surveyed in Saskatchewan. Because conditions were drier, root rot was lower in 2017 than in 2016, with mean incidence and severity of 77% and 2.2 in lentils, and 93% and 3.5 in peas. Aphanomyces euteiches was detected in 22% of lentil and 43% of pea fields. Other soilborne pathogens that contribute to the root rot complex, such as Fusarium avenaceum and F. solani, were also commonly present in the pea and lentil root samples. Overall, pea fields had higher root rot severity than lentils, and both pea and lentil showed the highest root rot and A. euteiches levels in the black soil zone.