Many pea and lentils crops are doing well, but there have been reports of root rot in various areas around the province.
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers agronomy manager Sherrilyn Phelps says the most serious is one called aphanomyces.
“If it’s affecting those roots, the roots can’t take up water, they’re not taking up nutrients, the plant just struggles,” said Phelps. “Definitely, you’ll see a lower yield, and in some cases, plants die prematurely, which is definitely not what growers want to happen.”
If a field has aphanomyces, farmers should not plant peas or lentils for eight years.
Phelps says plant breeders are working on developing resistant varieties, but those are still a few years away.
(CJWW)
