Identifying Bacterial Blight In Field Peas

 

 

 

Disease issues have not been a major concern for field pea producers in South Dakota. The dry climate, low acreage and diverse crop rotations practiced by growers have all contributed to reduced disease problems. However, as pea acres increase in South Dakota, this could change. Diseases can be a problem on pea and one disease of emerging importance is bacterial blight.

 

 

Bacterial blight tends to show up when pea plants are damaged by rain, wind, hail or a late spring frost. Tissue damage to the plant will create a wound and the bacteria will colonize the wound. Symptoms of bacterial blight can appear on the stem, leaves and pods (Figure 2) of the pea plants. All foliar tissue is susceptible. Initial symptoms are small shiny water soaked spots. As the disease progresses these areas can coalesce, and turn brown and necrotic.

 

In South Dakota, this disease is often seen in young pea plants after a late spring frost. However, as is often the case, if weather becomes warm and dry, the disease does not spread and new growth is often healthy. Damage and yield loss is minimal in these situations. However, there have been isolated situations when the occurrence of strong winds and hail late in the season has resulted in severe damage and yield loss in peas from bacterial blight.