Diseases

Fusarium oxysporum (Schlecht.) f. pisi (Hal.) Raillo, F. solani (Mart.) App. et Wr. f. pisi, F. culmorum Sacc., F. avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc., F. semitectum Berk. et Rav., F. gibbosum App. et Wr. - Fusariosis of Peas (Fusarium Root Rot and Fusarium Wilt)

Systematic position.

Class Deuteromycota, superoder Hyphomycetales, order Moniliales, family Tuberculariaceae, genus Fusarium.

Biological group.

These are facultative parasites.

Morphology and biology.

Infected ground, seeds, and vegetation residues are sources of the infection. The disease is exhibited as two kinds, as a root rot and tracheomycotic wilt. Fusarium species cause the rot of roots and root collar of pea plants in the shoot stage. The affected plants are easily pulled out of ground. Tracheomycotic wilt is exhibited more often during flowering and formation of beans. Leaves lose turgor, plant top wilts, and the whole plant withers quickly. Transverse sections of stalks demonstrate darkened vessels. Orange-pink bloom of sporiferous fungus is formed on affected organs with increased humidity. Fungal conidia are colorless, fusiform or crescent, with several septa, and variable in size. Most species form microconidia and chlamydospores.

Distribution.

Fusariosis of Peas is distributed everywhere in the world. In the territory of the former USSR the Fusariosis distribution coincides with the area of pea cultivation. In the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia the Root Rot dominates, both forms of the Fusariosis are found in the central regions of the European part and in Western Siberia. Fusarium Wilt prevails in southern areas in conditions of higher temperature and unstable water regime of the ground.

Ecology.

Soil humidity ratio 40-60% and average temperature 18-22.C are necessary for intensive development of Root Rot. Increased temperatures and variable water regime in the second half of vegetation are optimal for Fusarium Wilt development. The optimum temperature is 12-18.C for F. culmorum, 18-22.C for F. avenaceum, 24-28.C for F. oxysporum f. pisi, and 20-25.C for F. solani f. pisi.

Economic significance.

Fusariosis agents are widely specialized species. Fusariosis development on peas results in loss of shoots; yield losses reach 50%; quality of sowing material deteriorates. Means for reduction of contamination of crops include maintenance of crop rotation, removal of vegetation residues, use of mixed crops, seed dressing.

Reference citations:

Dorozhkin N.A., Chekalinskaya N.I., Nitievskaya V.I. 1978. The diseases of Legumes in BSSR. Minsk: Nauka i tekhnika. 192 p. (In Russian)
Kotova V.V. 2004. Root Rots of Peas and Vetch and their control. St. Petersburg: VIR. 144 p. (In Russian)
Makasheva R.Kh. 1973. The pea. Leningrad: Kolos. 12 p. (In Russian)

© Kungurtseva O.V.