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Summary

 

There are a number of factors to consider for controlling diseases in field peas under a direct seeding system. Crop rotation, using a diversity of broad-leaved and cereal crops, will ensure lower levels of all diseases. Avoid growing canola, fababeans, and sunflower before or following field peas to lower chances of attack by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

 

For diseases such as ascochyta blight, mycosphaerella blight and foot rot, a chemical treatment with Bravo 500 (chlorothalonil) fungicide is available. Testing of seed for ascotchyta blight and mycosphaerella blight is another preventive measure farmers may use. Seedling blight and some forms of root rot can be controlled by chemical means such as treating the seeds with Thiram (thiram), Captan FL (captan), and Apton FL (metalaxyl).

 

Using field pea varieties with an open canopy structure, like semi-leafless types, will allow better air flow and should reduce disease levels. Powdery mildew resistance will be incorporated into all new field pea varieties and should be commercially available by the year 2004. Genetic resistance to other diseases may be incorporated into new varieties in the future.