Pea and lentil growers looking to gain the upper hand against root rot diseases have a new resource.
A website, rootrot.ca, has been launched through the Pulse Root Rot Network. Users can access information on agronomy, breeding and pathology to advance research and management practices.
Why it matters: Root rot diseases like aphanomyces are a major challenge for producers who want to grow more peas in Manitoba.
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The website is part of the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers’ collaborative efforts against root rot diseases affecting peas and lentils. The group partners with other western Canadian pulse organizations, such as Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Alberta Pulse Growers, to pursue a national research strategy.
The initiative seeks knowledge, methods and tools to fight pathogens like aphanomyces and fusarium.
“As root rots are a top priority, this website was developed to allow consistent messaging and increase the collaborative approach to addressing this issue by connecting researchers,” Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers said in a Sept. 11 release.
“This website includes resources, tools and research to create a central location for growers, agronomists, researchers and the pulse industry.”
Site content will range from practical tools for root rot risk management to information on biology and behaviour of pathogens and the latest breeding efforts to develop genetic resistance.
While focused on peas and lentils, research also offers insights into root rot in dry beans and soybeans.
Since 2018, the Manitoba group has dedicated more than $1 million to root rot research, backed by federal-provincial programs and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. It has pledged an additional $150,000 in 2025.
