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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329276

Title: Pulse crop diseases in the Pacific Northwest

Author
item Chen, Weidong

Submitted to: Crops and Soils
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2016
Publication Date: 3/21/2016
Citation: Chen, W. 2016. Pulse crop diseases in the Pacific Northwest. Crops and Soils. Mar-Apr:20-26.

Interpretive Summary: The US Pacific Northwest region (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) has been on the frontier of pulse crops (peas, lentils and chickpeas) production in the US, using pulses as rotational crops in wheat production systems. The declaration of 2016 as the United Nation’s International Year of Pulses (IYP) will certainly increase awareness and consumption of pulses and likely position pulses as a primary source of protein and other essential nutrients for human diets. Pulse crops encounter numerous diseases during their production. This review article is in the spirit of celebrating the IYP2016, providing a brief overview of some of the important diseases of pulse crops that farmers face in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the disease features are common among all pulse production areas, and some are peculiar to this particular region. Major diseases of pulse crops in the PNW reviewed in this article includes Ascochyta blights (Ascochyta spp.), powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp. and Leveillula taurica), virus diseases and their aphid vectors (bean leaf roll virus, pea enation mosaic virus and other viruses), common root rot of pea and lentil (Aphanomyces euteiches) and the emerging disease problem caused by metalaxyl-resistant Pythium populations (Pythium spp). Illustrations and appropriate management practices or approaches are provided for each of the diseases.

Technical Abstract: The United Nations declared that 2016 is the International Year of Pulses (IYP). This UN declaration of IYP will certainly increase awareness of pulses and likely position pulses as a primary source of protein and other essential nutrients for human diets. The US Pacific Northwest region (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) has been on the frontier of pulse crop (peas, lentils and chickpeas) production in the US, using pulses as rotational crops in wheat production systems. Just like any other crop, pulse crops encounter numerous diseases during their production. In celebrating the IYP2016, we take a brief overview on some of the important diseases of pulse crops that farmers face in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the disease features are common among all pulse production areas, and some are peculiar to this particular region. Major diseases of pulse crops in the PNW reviewed in this article inclues Ascochyta blights (Ascochyta spp.), powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp. and Leveillula taurica), virus diseases and their vector aphids (bean leaf roll virus, pea enation mosaic virus and other viruses), common root rot of pea and lentil (Aphanomyces euteiches) and the emerging disease problem caused by metalaxyl-resistant Pythium populations (Pythium spp). Each disease was illustrated with one or more photos and appropriate management practices or approaches for the diseases were provided.