With flash flooding and saturated soils affecting much of the prairie provinces this year, it’s no wonder producers are finding pea crops with serious symptom development. Unfortunately, distinguishing nutrient deficiencies, nodulation issues (read more: Nodulation No-Show? Tips for a Rescue N App) and disease presence from other stress-inducing factors can be incredibly difficult.
A few key signs peas may be affected by root rot is yellowing of leaf tissue, decay or brown discolouration of roots and often pale, reduced nodules. The best way to identify the causal agent of root rot symptoms is by sending a sample to a diagnostic laboratory.
Related: Pulse School: The Root Rot You’ve Likely Never Heard Of
In this Pulse School, Faye Dokken-Bouchard, disease specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, discusses factors that can cause yellowing in pea crops, focusing on root rots and moisture-stress with examples available for the Saskatchewan Crop Diagnostic Schools. Dokken-Bouchard also suggests a few management tips to lessen the likelihood of seeing root rot development in the future.