Detailed Explanation of Pea Pest and Disease Types and Control Methods

Peas, also called green beans, are deeply loved by customers in the sales market, but for growers, how can they grow high-yield peas? Then they must master pea pest and disease control methods, because as the growing period of peas increases, the probability of pests and diseases becomes greater and greater. Poor control can easily lead to reduced pea yields. So what pests and diseases do peas have? How should they be controlled? Let's learn about it together next!

I. What pests and diseases do peas have?

1. Downy mildew

Pea downy mildew mainly damages leaves and stems. It generally starts on the leaves. In the early stage, pale yellow small spots with a white powdery appearance appear on the leaves, which later expand into irregular powdery patches and merge with each other. The surface of the diseased area is covered by white frost, and then it spreads to the stems. The stems first turn pale yellow, then become small gray-black spots.

2. Brown spot disease

This disease mainly damages leaves, stems, and pods. Diseased leaves show irregular light purple small spots. Under high temperature and high humidity conditions, the lesions spread more easily. In the later stage, the leaves turn yellow, twist, and wither. Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer and yellowed leaves on plants both make the disease more likely to occur.

3. Root rot

It is caused by infection with Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi, mainly damaging the root area or underground stem area. In diseased plants, the lower leaves turn yellow first, and in the later stage the whole plant turns yellow and withers. Part of the main root turns black, and the vascular tissue turns dark brown. In severe cases, the base constricts or becomes sunken and brown, and the epidermis of the diseased area rots. This causes plant stunting, and the disease generally occurs more often at the flowering stage.

4. Black stem fly

This insect mainly damages leguminous plants. Its larvae bore into the stems and cause damage, feeding on the pith and phloem. After the larvae mature, they bite an emergence hole on the inner wall of the stem, then pupate and emerge. The leaves of infested plants turn yellow; in severe cases the stems become hollow, the leaves fall off, and the plants wither due to lack of water. If infested in the later stage, it causes flowers, pods, and leaves to fall prematurely, reducing yield.

II. How to control pea pests and diseases?

1. Implement crop rotation

Crop rotation can effectively reduce soil-borne pests and diseases and lower the chance of pea pests and diseases occurring. Generally, choosing relatively popular melons, fruits, and vegetables or crops of the Cyperaceae family for rotation is acceptable. Through deep loosening of the soil and fertilization, the disease resistance of the plants is effectively improved.

2. Seed disinfection

Seeds can be dressed with 70% thiophanate-methyl at 0.3% of the seed weight, sealed for 48-96 hours, and then sown.

3. Improve cultivation techniques

Fertilize reasonably and plant sparsely, and improve the balance of fertilizer supply. Apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, less nitrogen fertilizer, and spray brassinolide regularly to improve disease resistance.

4. Chemical control

For general pest and disease control, chemical control should be used as little as possible. For black stem fly infestation, 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution or 48% chlorpyrifos emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution can be used for root drenching or spraying control. For root rot, 20% thiodiazole-copper suspension concentrate at 500 times dilution can be used for root drenching. For downy mildew control, 15% triadimefon wettable powder at 1500-2000 times dilution should be sprayed at the first flowering of peas or at the initial stage of disease occurrence. Carry out control every 7-10 days.

At this point, the sharing about pea pests and diseases ends here. If everyone wants to grow high-yield peas, these pest and disease control methods are worth learning. I hope they can help everyone.