Ascochyta

Severe epidemics develop under cool wet conditions, potentially causing yield losses of more than 30 percent. Pathogens attack leaves, stems, flowers and pods. Early symptoms on leaves present as small purplish spots with irregular margins.

On older leaves, lesions enlarge, causing dehydration of plant tissues. Infected seeds may be asymptomatic or may become shrunken and discoloured. Infected seedlings often develop symptoms only on the stem base where cotyledons attach.

Scouting

Test seed for disease. Scout in cool wet conditions for early symptoms, such as leaf spots. In later season, check blossoms for petal lesions or blossom drop.

Control

Plant disease-free seed. Avoid growing peas more than once in four years and avoid adjacent fields where peas have been grown recently. Till under infected crop residue to reduce disease inoculum. Vitaflo 280 seed treatment protects against both seed- and soil-borne Ascochyta.