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Les ministères, sociétés d’État et organismes du gouvernement de la Saskatchewan mettent en œuvre des plans d’urgence visant à réduire les répercussions de l’interruption du service des postes.
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In 2024, many crop producers noticed chlorotic, stunted, defoliated plants in their fields after early season rains followed by hot and dry growing conditions. In many cases, these symptoms were due to root rot affecting the crops. While several crops experienced root rot symptoms across the province, pulse crops faced a higher disease incidence. This article highlights the primary pathogens responsible for root rot diseases in pulses and the integrated management strategies that can be used to reduce disease impacts. Management of root rot may enhance the sustainability and productivity of pulse farming in Saskatchewan.
As of mid-August, the Saskatchewan Crop Protection Laboratory received 92 sample submissions from fields in Saskatchewan and of these, 32 had root rot diagnosed as the primary cause of the symptoms of concern. From the samples diagnosed with root rot, 27 were pulse crops. It is clear pulse crops have a high incidence of root rot disease, and pulse producers will likely see an impact on production or yields.
Pulses are affected by many soil-borne pathogens that may cause root rots. While some pathogens may cause root rots in other crop types, there are a few pathogens with a host-range limited to pulses. These pathogens are water moulds, a clade of fungus-like microorganisms characterized by a filamentous growth form in aquatic or moist environments. While classical taxonomy grouped these organisms with fungi, modern cladistic approaches using molecular methods place these organisms in a separate group called the Oomycetes.
The two most prevalent genera of oomycetes causing root rots in pulses are Aphanomyces and Pythium. Often, these oomycetes act alongside soil-borne pathogenic fungi to cause root rots. Such a combination of pathogenic species causing disease is called a disease complex. Given the extensive presence of soil-borne pathogenic fungi including Fusarium sp. and Rhizoctonia solani in Saskatchewan, it is not surprising to find that pulse crops may be severely affected by a root rot complex.
The impacts of root rots include damping off, seedling blights, poor root growth, poor nodulation, root discolouration, leaf yellowing, stunting, and if later-season infections occur, crop lodging may be seen. These symptoms can all contribute to a less-than-expected yield. The most severe symptom of root rots is the death of the host plant.
The significant impacts of root rots mandate disease management be a priority for pulse producers. The first line of defence a producer has at their disposal is appropriate seed that is handled with care. Using certified, disease-free seed may reduce the disease pressure on the plant allowing it to use its innate defences to target the soil-borne pathogens rather than having to endure seed-borne pathogens as well. Ensuring the seeds are not damaged or cracked by loading or the air handling systems on seeders or drills is necessary to ensure the plant has the best chance to establish. Treated seed can provide the best chance for plant survival. Seed treatment options for pulse crops are detailed on page 650 of the 2024 Guide to Crop Protection. While necessary to ensure crop establishment, seed treatments are only effective until the plant has grown past the seedling stage. To date, no foliar applied pesticides have been registered to control root rot diseases.
Other larger-scale options for root rot disease management exist. Crop rotations reduce inoculum build-up from continual planting of the same crop, or changing the pulse used in the already existing rotation. Crop rotations allow for a reduction in inoculum as some pulse crops such as chickpea or faba bean have moderate resistance to some of the most virulent and/or pathogenic species of the root rot causing disease complex. Other strategies for management can include biosecurity measures such as using separate field entrances and exits, washing equipment between fields and minimizing the use of equipment that has been on other land. Lastly, ensuring soil drainage can help reduce the amount of root rots seen in crops.
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