Surveys for root rot and pathogens in pea and lentil in Saskatchewan in 2016

In 2016, root rot was widespread in Saskatchewan, affecting 81 pea fields and 67 lentil fields surveyed. Mean incidence and severity were 92% and 3.3 in lentils, and 89.5% and 3.8 in peas. Aphanomyces euteiches was detected in 69% of lentil and 56% 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 root rot levels varied depending on soil zone. Peas showed the highest root rot level in the brown soil zone and the lowest in the dark brown, whereas lentils had the highest in the black soil zone and the lowest in the brown.