Diseases

Powdery mildew of pea

Pisum sativum L.

A fungal disease of pea caused by specialized forms of the order Erysiphales, particularly Erysiphe pisi. It manifests as a white, web-like coating on vegetative organs, causing deformation, flower/pod drop, and reduced productivity.

In the reference 268 varieties crop Pea, where this is mentioned in the description.

The primary pathogen of powdery mildew on pea is the fungus Erysiphe pisi DC. The disease affects leaves, stems, flowers, and pods, manifesting during the period from the beginning of flowering to the end of the growing season. Initial symptoms appear as circular spots of delicate white mycelium, which gradually expand to cover the entire plant surface, becoming denser and acquiring a grayish hue due to the formation of cleistothecia.

Severe infection leads to leaf curling and necrosis, as well as the shedding of flowers and pods. Early infection causes deep lesions on young pods, which prevents seed formation or leaves them underdeveloped. Infestation of the stem base triggers browning and leads to total plant death.

In pea breeding practice for resistance to this pathogen, the concept of monogenic trait inheritance predominates. Researchers actively utilize genetic factors introgressed from wild relatives, such as Pisum fulvum, to develop varieties capable of resisting infection development.

General information about the subject — on the page Powdery mildew.

Sources8

Varieties of Pea mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.