Consider Using Seed Treatment For Pulse Crops

Emergence and establishment of your pulse crops can be negatively affected by dampening off and root rot pathogens. To avoid these issues, consider using a seed treatment.

Dampening off occurs when a fungus or oomycete causes banding and restriction of the developing plant. Examples of these fungus and oomycete include Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Dampening off can be worse when the soil is cool and moist around the time the crop is planted. Symptoms of dampening off include a reduced stand, girdling, seedling yellowing, reduced secondary roots, and brown to black colored roots.

Different root rots that infect pulse crops will show up early in the year, while others will appear later on as temperatures rise. Factors that intensify root diseases include wet conditions, herbicide injury, temperature, nematodes, and soil characteristics including compacted soils and high clay soils. These issues can cause stress on the root system, limiting its ability to take up water. Symptoms will include browning, crown lesions, poor nodulation, few secondary roots, and constriction. While these symptoms are taking place below ground, above ground foliage may appear to be healthy until pod fill when plants begin to yellow, and the number of pods or head size is reduced.

Seed treatments can assist in suppressing these early season pathogens, especially seed treatments that target Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium.

For a list of fungicide suggestions, visit https://www.montana.edu/extension/plantpath/resources/ and select “Fungicides Seed Treatment Registered for Disease Control in Pea, Lentil, and Chickpea.” Recommendations for foliar fungicides that target above ground pulse diseases are also available on the website.