Foot Rot Complex of Peas

Foot Rot disease is very common in peas and beans and is caused by one or more of the following pathogens: Fusarium solani f.sp. pisi, Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella, Thielaviopsis basicola, Aphanomyces eutiches, Pythium species, and Rhizoctonia solani. Pea stands are reduced due to seed death, poor emergence, and stunting, yellowing, and wilting of infected plants. Roots develop brown to black discoloration and brown to black sunken lesions occur on crowns and lower stems.

Aphanomyces eutiches may be the most important disease of pea seedlings, causing root and stem rot. Like Pythium species, the pathogen produces Oospores that can persist in the soil for many years. The disease is favored by cool, moist soils and disease spread can be rapid under favorable conditions. Fungicide seed treatment and resistant cultivars have not provided acceptable control in heavily infested fields.

F. solani f.sp. pisi occurs as a part of Foot Rot complex or as a vascular wilt disease. Symptoms include yellowing, wilting, and lower stem discoloration. The pathogen survives as chlamydospores in the soil and is also seedborne. Disease is favored by warm soils. Resistant cultivars to some races are available.

P. medicaginis var. pinodella can cause foliar symptoms as well as lower stem lesions. Lesions on leaves and pods are round to oval, containing alternating concentric rings of shades of brown tissue. Stem lesions may become purple and girdle plant stems. The pathogen is seedborne, survives in the soil as chlamydospores, and infects other leguminous species.

Management:

• Practice long rotations with non-leguminous crops.
• Start with certified, disease-free seed.
• Correct poor drainage and soil compaction problems.
• Fungicides are not useful for management of Foot Rot disease.