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Anthracnose Disease In Lentils
Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum truncatum, is a relatively new disease of lentils. Capable of causing yield losses in excess of 50%, it is much more destructive than ascochyta. This is noteworthy since ascochyta completely destroyed some lentil crops north of Devils Lake in 1986. anthracnose is widespread in Manitoba. It was detected in commercial lentils near Makoti in 1992 and was destructive in 1993. It destroyed or severely damaged the lentil variety trials at Carrington in 1993 and several years since.
Anthracnose kills lower leaves and may cause premature death of affected plants. Affected plants may exhibit severe defoliation. Brown lesions develop on the stem and small black bristle-like fruiting structures develop on the lesions of affected stems and leaves. Typical field symptoms are lodged plants with abnormally dark brown stems. Signs of the pathogen, black fruiting bodies, are usually present on the lower stem, and are diagnostic.
The anthracnose fungus is seed borne but infection of seedlings has not been demonstrated. Spread within the field is by means of spores that are splash dispersed by rain showers in June and July. The anthracnose fungus can be spread in the fall by dust at harvest.
Several cultivar studies in Manitoba have indicated that Chilean was the most susceptible, followed by Laird and Eston. Indianhead was slightly less susceptible than the other cultivars. Red Chief has been shown to have some resistance. In trials at Carrington, Laird, Red Chief and CDC Richlea have all shown some resistance. They are not immune, and will eventually get anthracnose, but disease development is much slower than in other varieties. Brewer and Crimson are moderately susceptible. Eston and CDC Redwing are susceptible. Pardina is highly susceptible.
Control. Plant cultivars that have shown some resistance to anthracnose. Use a crop rotation of at least 3 years. Avoid peas and faba beans in the rotation since there is evidence that they are susceptible to at least some of the same strains of the anthracnose fungus that attack lentils. Foliar fungicides have been effective in Manitoba trials. In North Dakota, Amistar, Quadris and Endura are fungicides labeled for control of ascochyta. Amistar and Quadris will also control anthracnose. Use 2 to 5 oz of Amistar dry material per acre or 6.2 to 15.4 fl oz/acre of Quadris. For more information see the Fungicide Guide at http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/pests/pp622w.htm
For more information on diseases, see http://paridss.usask.ca/specialcrop/pulse_diseases/index.html
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