Sask. Pea Growers Warned About Powdery Mildew

REGINA - Jul 8/02 - SNS -- Saskatchewan Agriculture (SAFRR) is warning the province's field pea growers to be more alert for the development on powdery mildew because many fields were planted later than normal, warns provincial special crops specialist Ray McVicar.

"Late seeding - after the last week of May - and slow crop development compounds the harmful effect of the disease because the pods and seeds are not developed before the infestation occurs. On crops with pods and seeds already developed, the disease may look bad but it will have very little economic impact," says McVicar.

Most varieties of dry pea commonly grown in Saskatchewan are susceptible to powdery mildew. Kumulus DF is a registered fungicide for the control of the disease in dry pea, but it is a protectant and does not cure leaves already diseased. Application, therefore, must be made prior to infection, or as soon as the first sign of powdery mildew is evident.

"The symptoms of powdery mildew first appear in fields near the end of July. So producers should be walking their fields during the last two weeks of July in order to identify the disease early.

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