Efficacy of precipitated calcium carbonate in managing fusarium root rot of field pea

Abstract

Recently, root rots caused by Fusarium spp. have become a major constraint for field pea production in North Dakota. With the inadequate disease management options currently available, this study was initiated to determine whether precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), a byproduct of the sugar processing industry, could be used for managing fusarium root rots of field pea. The efficiency of PCC in controlling Fusarium species associated with root rots was evaluated in vitro and under greenhouse, and field conditions. Effect of PCC on growth characteristics of six Fusarium spp. viz., F. acuminatum, F. avenaceum, F. redolens, F. solani, F. graminearum, and F. oxysporum, commonly associated with pea root rot was evaluated in vitro. Significant reduction in conidia production, conidial germination, and dry mycelial weight were recorded in presence of PCC in growth media. In the greenhouse, PCC efficacy was tested at varying rates (equivalent to 0, 2.2, 5.6, 11.2, and 22.5 t/ha of field application (corresponding to 0, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 t/ac, respectively)) in pot culture experiments containing soil infested with F. avenaceum and F. solani, the two most aggressive and common Fusarium pathogens associated with field pea root rots in North Dakota. Significant reduction in root rot disease severity was observed in both F. avenaceum, and F. solani infested pots at all rates of PCC application compared to the controls. Similar results were obtained from multi-location field experiments conducted in 2010 and 2011 with reduction in root rot severity following application of PCC. Results from this study demonstrated that PCC has the potential to serve as a strategy for Fusarium root rot management in field pea.