Dry bean improvement for sustainable production in Canada: Applied dry bean pest management

Crop Dry Bean
Start Date2013
End Date2018
Principal InvestigatorGillard, Chris, University of Guelph
MPSG Financial Support$26,000
Total Project Funding$709,361
External Funding PartnersFunding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada through the AgriInnovation Program and Ontario Bean Growers

Project Description

Dry beans have a number of significant pest issues, and growers manage this crop at a high level. The primary objective of this project is to develop new control measures that are effective and economical for growers.  Anthracnose is a serious seed-borne disease that has a number of control strategies, including disease-free seed, genetic resistance and chemical controls. Recently completed studies have found that anthracnose can be transmitted easily by common materials such as metal equipment, rubber tires and denim clothing. The industry is encouraged to adopt biosecurity measures to minimize disease spread from infected to uninfected fields. This project has identified a number of new chemical controls. Future work will include an economic analysis of new controls, as well as determining the effectiveness of new controls on other diseases such as white mold.

Common bacterial blight is typically managed through the use of disease-free seed. Genetic resistance is becoming common place in navy bean cultivars, and it is slowly being incorporated into other market classes. A recently completed study found that thermotherapy (a microwave seed treatment) was largely ineffective in preventing disease from infected seed. Seed treatment and foliar controls are not commonly used but current research is testing new products to provide growers with in-season options for disease control.

White mold is a relatively sporadic but devastating disease of dry beans. The primary control method is foliar fungicides. Several new fungicide products have been identified that effectively control this disease. To assist growers in their decision making, research has been conducted to determine the economic returns to fungicide use. Future research will continue to identify new products, as well as conducting an economic analysis of long term data from this study.

Research is ongoing to identify new root rot seed treatment products. Root rot is typically the number one disease pest in dry beans, but it is often overlooked by the industry. Several new products have been identified that provide early season control for Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani root rots. This research is key, as a large percentage of dry bean seed is imported from the U.S. each year. Canadian growers need to understand the merits of new seed treatments that are currently available in the U.S. before they are registered for use in Canada.

Western Bean Cutworm is a new insect pest for dry bean growers in Ontario. Over the last 10 years, it migrated from the corn belt states, and an overwintering population has been established in Ontario. Crop damage has been quite low to date, but it is expected to increase over time. The larvae feed on beans within the pod late in the growing season, and therefore reduce marketable yield. Recently completed studies have identified two insecticide products to control this pest. Research also found that the best application timing was 4-11 days after peak moth flight.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the #1 pest in soybean production, and impacts dry beans as well. Several resistance genes are utilized in soybeans, but no control measures are currently in place to manage this pest in dry beans. Current research has identified that certain market classes (navy, black and otebo) are quite tolerant to SCN, while other market classes (cranberry, kidney and adzuki) are more susceptible. Growers can use this to make crop planting decisions, once they determine the level of SCN in their soils. Various biological and chemical control were evaluated, but further work is needed to determine their effectiveness.