Anthracnose
Lentil anthracnose is a highly destructive disease that occurs under warm, wet conditions, especially during the short crop rotations. This disease was first recognized in southern Manitoba and has subsequently spread into areas in Saskatchewan.
Symptoms: Lesions will become tan-colored on the lower leaflets, if they are severely infected the leaflets will die and fall off. The stem lesions develop first along the base, then spread vertically and horizontally around the stem, making the girdled stem die. Infected fields will have yellow patches after the canopy has closed. As the disease spreads and the plants in the centre start to die and turn brown, the patches will enlarge.
Disease Cycle: The emerging plants will become infected from the stubble-borne and seed-borne pathogens. These pathogens are initiated in the spring when the lower leaves and stems are splashed by rain and the disease favors the high temperatures and the infections will take place if the leaves are wet for 18-24 hours. High winds during harvest can carry the infected debris from field to field.
Control: When your field has been infected, a four-year crop rotation is recommended and seed should not be planted near the fields that were infected. When planting in an area not infested with anthracnose, use disease-free treated seed. The best time to scout your lentils is before flowering (check the lower leaflets for symptoms), if the disease is present, apply foliar fungicide before the canopy closure and this will reduce stem infections.
Symptoms: Lesions will become tan-colored on the lower leaflets, if they are severely infected the leaflets will die and fall off. The stem lesions develop first along the base, then spread vertically and horizontally around the stem, making the girdled stem die. Infected fields will have yellow patches after the canopy has closed. As the disease spreads and the plants in the centre start to die and turn brown, the patches will enlarge.
Disease Cycle: The emerging plants will become infected from the stubble-borne and seed-borne pathogens. These pathogens are initiated in the spring when the lower leaves and stems are splashed by rain and the disease favors the high temperatures and the infections will take place if the leaves are wet for 18-24 hours. High winds during harvest can carry the infected debris from field to field.
Control: When your field has been infected, a four-year crop rotation is recommended and seed should not be planted near the fields that were infected. When planting in an area not infested with anthracnose, use disease-free treated seed. The best time to scout your lentils is before flowering (check the lower leaflets for symptoms), if the disease is present, apply foliar fungicide before the canopy closure and this will reduce stem infections.