Could someone please drain my soils? I want to grow pulses

Non-Peer Reviewe

Resistance to Aphanomyces euteiches infection in wild lentil species

Non-Peer Reviewe

What in the soil is going on with prairie field pea production?

Non-Peer Reviewe

Sclerotinia stem rot control in small-seeded lentil production in the Black Soil Zone

Non-Peer ReviewedLentil production in the black soil zone is limited by the susceptibility of the crop to diseases such as sclerotinia stem rot. The objective of this project was to determine stem rot control strategies in small-seeded lentil by examining the impact of plant density, cultivar, fungicide treatment and timing of application on stem rot severity and yield. The relationship between flower petal infection and stem rot severity was also examined. Randomized complete block field experiments of three replicates were established at Rosthern and Melfort, SK and assessed for flower petal infection, disease severity and yield in 2000. Results of this single year of data indicated that fungicides reduced stem rot severity at both locations but increased yield only at Melfort, where later timing of application resulted in greater yield than early. Stem rot severity varied with cultivar however the cultivar with the greatest severity also had the greatest yield. Plant density had no effect on stem rot severity, but the lower plant density resulted in lower yield than the higher plant density. Flower petal infection was positively correlated with final disease rating only at Rosthern

Plant genomics in lentil breeding: development of a cDNA-based rapid screening method for Ascochyta blight resistance in lentil (Lens culinaris L.)

Non-Peer ReviewedAscochyta blight causes severe crop losses in temperate lentil production areas around the world, including Saskatchewan. At present there is no reliable system available to breeders for identifying blight resistant lentil lines. We are trying to develop a reliable, high throughput and low cost cDNA based system for screening lentil germplasm for polygenic resistance to Ascochyta blight. We have chosen the Ascochyta blight susceptible lentil variety Richlea and the closely related resistant breeding line 1156-2-17A for this study. Lentil plants were inoculated with spore suspensions of Ascochyta under conditions that clearly showed the difference in disease resistance between these lines. Tissue collected from resistant and susceptible lines at different times after inoculation will be used for extraction of total RNA–representing all the genes expressed by the plants in response to Ascochyta infection. Complementary DNA (cDNA) made from these RNA samples along with mock-inoculated controls will be visualized on poly acrylamide gels using the technique of ‘differential display’. We intend to identify the sequences of lentil genes expressed only by the resistant lines in response to Ascochyta infection and use them for developing molecular markers for the resistance trait. cDNA samples made from these plants will also be useful in developing a cDNA library of lentil tissue for future EST projects

Evaluation of harvest aids application timing for lentil dry down

Non-Peer ReviewedHarvesting stage is a critical step for lentil producers to maintain high seed yield and good quality. Desiccating lentil with desiccants/harvest aids can dry down lentil evenly and quickly, and control late-growing green weeds, which enhances lentil harvest efficiency and allows early harvesting. Since the harvest aids are applied at a late growth stage, high herbicide residue in seeds may cause commercial issues with marketing lentil. Application timing of harvest aids is critical for producers. Improper application timing may reduce yield and thousand seed weight, but increase herbicide residue in seeds. Therefore, the objective of the harvest aids application timing (% seed moisture) trial was to evaluate the responses of lentil to different herbicide application timings at Saskatoon and Scott, Saskatchewan, over 2 years (2012 and 2013). For this trial, glyphosate (900 g a.e. ha-1), saflufenacil (50 g a.i. ha-1), and the combination of glyphosate plus saflufenacil (900 g a.e. ha-1 and 36 g a.i. ha-1) were applied when seed moisture content was 60%, 50%, 40%, 30% and 20%. Apart from these herbicide treatments, there was also an untreated control, which is desiccated naturally. Significant relationships between evaluated variables and application timing on the basis of seed moisture content were detected. Also, this trial indicated that early application timing (60% application seed moisture) could result in reductions in lentil yield and thousand seed weight. Glyphosate residue in seeds was less than 4 mg kg-1 when glyphosate was applied alone at 30% and 20% average seed moisture. Glyphosate residue decreased when adding saflufenacil to glyphosate. Saflufenacil residue consistently increased with earlier application timing of the harvest aids

Fungicides application timing, sequencing, and tank mixing for controlling blight in chickpea

Non-Peer ReviewedTotal crop losses can result from ascochyta blight on chickpea (caused by Ascochyta rabiei). A study was conducted to investigate effective fungicide application strategies in particular fungicide application timing as well as product choices, sequencing and mixtures for blight control. In addition, this study is expected to provide information on resistance management through fungicide rotations, mixtures or sequences. Fungicide trials were conducted in Saskatoon and Swift Current using Bravo 500, Quadris, Headline, BAS510 and Dithane in various sequences or tank mixes on cultivars Myles and CDC Yuma. Only Bravo 500 is registered on chickpea. Quadris had emergency registration in 2002. Applications were timed at the seedling stage, pre-flower, early-flower, late-flower and the podding stages. These results relate to the trial at Swift Current. Cultivar CDC Yuma developed higher infection levels than Myles. The level of disease control by each fungicide treatment was dependent on cultivar. The above average rainfall in Swift Current increased the level of blight severity and consequently it required several sprays especially on cultivar CDC Yuma to protect the crop. Cool wet weather towards the end of the season also delayed maturity and affected yield and seed quality. Disease severity was 97% and 82% in the untreated plots of CDC Yuma and Myles, respectively. In treated plots, it ranged from 13-50% in Myles and 15-96% in CDC Yuma. The yields varied from 434 to1956 kg/ha for CDC Yuma and 1430 to 2627 kg/ha for Myles. When spraying started before symptoms (per calender sprays with five applications), the high rate of Dithane at 2.44 kg a.i./ha reduced disease severity and increased yield more than the low rate of Dithane at 1.68kg a.i./ha. Sequencing Headline and Dithane in the per calender spray was better than per calender sprays with Dithane alone on both cultivars. However, per calender spray with a high rate of Dithane alone compared well with some treatments which included Headline or Quadris on Myles. Almost all other sequences were effective on Myles, but on CDC Yuma the most effective were those that included mostly Headline and in some cases Quadris. In general, at least three sprays to Myles and most treatments with at least four sprays to CDC Yuma reduced blight to less than 50% and also increased yields by up to 84% in Myles and up to 351% in CDC Yuma. The results suggest that there could be a range of different fungicides and sequences one might use to adequately protect chickpea, but this will depend on the registration of products other than Bravo 500

Evaluation of new and existing desiccants in lentil

Non-Peer ReviewedGlobally, herbicide resistance has become a major challenge for many producers. In western Canada, many lentil (Lens culinaris L.) producers have great difficulty controlling Group 2 resistant biotypes. Two of these problematic weeds, wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) and kochia (Kochia scoparia), are particularly challenging for lentil growers and can cause extensive yield loss when not adequately controlled. Desiccation is primarily used to dry down lentil for harvest ease and efficiency but can also be used as a late season control for actively growing weeds. The objective of this project is to evaluate the response of wild mustard and kochia to different herbicides, tank mixed with two different rates of glyphosate (450 g a.e. ha-1 and 900 g a.e. ha-1) at Saskatoon and Scott, Saskatchewan over a 2 year period. Desiccation occurred when the lentil seed moisture content was approximately 30%. Preliminary results are under investigation. Evaluation of seed and plant moisture of the treated plots is ongoing, along with an evaluation of the effects of the treatments on viability and vigour of affected weed seeds

Moving pulse crop breeding into the 21st century

Non-Peer Reviewe

Fungicide application timing for management of Ascochyta blight in chickpea

Non-Peer ReviewedAscochyta blight of chickpea [Ascochyta rabiei] is an extremely destructive disease capable of causing high yield and quality losses. The disease is widespread in chickpea growing areas of the prairies, and the pathogen can survive in crop debris for several years. Although partially resistant cultivars are available, the disease can still be devastating if weather conditions are favourable, making fungicides an important disease management tool. Trials investigating the effectiveness of different fungicide application timings and sequences were conducted on the desi cv. Myles and the kabuli cv. CDC Yuma at Saskatoon in 2003. The products used included Bravo 500, Headline, and Lance. The first application was made prior to flowering, when disease pressure was still extremely low. Additional applications were made at early flower, mid-flower, late flower or podding, with a maximum of three applications per treatment. In both cultivars, treatments without a pre-flower application of fungicide had higher disease severity and lower yields than treatments with a pre-flower application. Treatments without a pre-flower application that were sprayed three times were still inferior to treatments with a pre-flower application that were only sprayed twice. These results emphasize the need for early and frequent scouting for disease symptoms in chickpea to allow for early fungicide application if it is appropriate