Location: Potato, Pulse and Small Grains Quality Research
Project Number: 3060-21650-002-083-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2026
End Date: Dec 31, 2027
Objective:
The goal of this project is to study mechanisms to improve management and reduce risk of bacterial blight and the Ascochyta blight complex in winter peas in the IPNW. The specific objectives of this study are to (1) survey, collect and characterize pathogen populations associated with bacterial blight and the Ascochyta blight complex across representative production environments; (2) evaluate a diverse, genotyped panel of pea lines to identify genes and sources of tolerance or resistance to bacterial blight and Ascochyta complex pathogens; (3) determine the effectiveness of copper-based bactericides and application timing for control of bacterial blight in winter pea; and (4) determine the efficacy of fungicides with diverse modes of action and identify optimal application timing for management of pathogens associated with the Ascochyta blight complex in winter pea.
Approach:
This project will integrate multi-location field trials supplemented with controlled greenhouse studies and laboratory characterization of pathogens, over a three-year period, to evaluate integrated management strategies for the Ascochyta blight complex and bacterial blight in winter pea. Field experiments will be conducted in representative winter pea production environments of northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Copper-based bactericides for bacterial blight suppression and fungicides with diverse modes of action for management of the Ascochyta blight complex in winter pea will be evaluated. For the Ascochyta blight complex, fungicides representing multiple FRAC groups will be evaluated to improve disease suppression, broaden protection across infection windows, and support integrated disease management under IPNW conditions. By explicitly examining interactions among pathogen populations, germplasm response, treatment choice, and application timing, this work moves beyond simple product screening and toward development of regionally adapted, biologically informed disease management strategies.