Root rot

Root rot

Root rot on pea is caused by the fungus-like oomycete <i>Aphanomyces euteiches</i>.

Life cycle

Development cycle of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea
Development cycle of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea (From Wicker E (2001) Diversité des populations françaises d’Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs., agent de la pourriture racinaire du pois : variabilité pathogène et moléculaire. Thesis of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes, 30 Mai, 178 pp + indexes).

Symptoms

Symptoms at the field scale

Symptoms of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea at the field scale
Symptoms of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea at the field scale (Copyright Anne MOUSSART, INRA).
Symptoms of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea at the field scale
Symptoms of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea at the field scale (Copyright Anne MOUSSART, INRA).

In the case of an important attack, the disease develops in foci in the field.

Symptoms on the aerial parts of the plants

Symptoms of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea at the plant scale
Symptoms of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea at the plant scale (Copyright Anne MOUSSART, INRA).
Symptoms of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea at the plant scale

Dwarfism and yellowing are symptoms on the aerial parts of the plant. The attacked plants also present a lower number of pods than healthy ones, and fewer seeds per pod.

Symptoms on the roots

Symptoms of Aphanomyces euteiches on pea roots

Diseased roots are brown and limp. Functional nodosities are absent.