Plant Pathology
Research Updates

Management of powdery mildew in field peas
Successful management of powdery mildew of field peas requires either selection of a resistant field pea variety or a preventative application of an effective fungicide at the appropriate timing. Research conducted by NDSU indicates that registered fungicides differ sharply in their efficacy against powdery mildew and that a single application of the most effective fungicides applied when peas are in full bloom with the first pods full and full-length and partially to fully filled can confer season-long management of this disease.
Fundamentals of powdery mildew management in field peas: explanatory video (length, 6:26)
2025 FIELD PEA powdery mildew introduction.pdf Comparative fungicide efficacy for management of powdery mildew in field peas: explanatory video (length, 24:22)
2025 FIELD PEA powdery mildew fungicide.pdf
Management of Ascochtya blight in chickpeas
Successful management of Ascochyta blight of chickpeas requires early, preventative applications of the most effective fungicides, and research conducted by NDSU indicates that fungicide performance against Ascochyta blight can be improved by optimizing fungicide droplet size relative to chickpea canopy characteristics.
Fundamentals of foliar disease management in chickpeas: explanatory video (length, 22:33)
2025 CHICKPEA Ascochyta fundamentals of management.pdf Comparative fungicide efficacy for management of Ascochyta blight in chickpeas: explanatory video (length, 29:53)
2025 CHICKPEA Ascochyta fungicide efficacy detailed results.pdf 2025 CHICKPEA Ascochyta fungicide efficacy summary.pdf Optimizing fungicide droplet size for improved management of Ascochyta blight in chickpeas: explanatory video (length, 26:44)
2025 CHICKPEA Ascochyta optimizing fungicide droplet size.pdf
Optimizing the management of white mold in dry beans with fungicides
Multi-year, multi-location research conducted by NDSU indicates that the management of white mold in dry beans can be improved through (1) choice of fungicide, (2) optimizing fungicide spray droplet size relative to canopy characteristics, (3) optimizing fungicide application timing, and (4) optimizing fungicide application frequency and interval. Fungicide application timing, application interval, and application frequency are more important determinants of fungicide performance than spray volume.
Aproach, Miravis Neo and Priaxor: video explaining findings (length, 5:31).
Badge: video explaining findings (length, 9:27).
Endura: video explaining findings (length, 14:27).
Omega: video explaining findings (length, 7:26).
Proline: video explaining findings (length, 8:46).
ProPulse: video explaining findings (length, 6:52).
Quash, Rovral, Switch and Vertisan: video explaining findings (length, 9:54).
Topsin/generic: video explaining findings (length, 5:25).
Pinto beans: video explaining findings (length, 23:43).
Kidney beans: video explaining findings (length, 26:05).
Pinto beans: video explaining findings (length, 16:55).
Kidney beans: video explaining findings (length, 16:09).
Black beans: video explaining findings (length, 17:58).
Navy beans: video explaining findings (length, 15:18).
Pinto beans: video explaining findings (length, 20:24).
Kidney beans: video explaining findings (length, 18:48).
Pinto beans: video explaining findings (length, 13:07).
Kidney beans: video explaining findings (length, 13:10).
Optimizing the management of white mold in soybeans with fungicides
Multi-year, multi-location research conducted by NDSU indicates that the management of white mold in soybeans can be sharply improved through (1) choice of fungicide, (2) optimizing fungicide spray droplet size relative to canopy closure, and (3) optimizing fungicide application timing.
Aproach fungicide: full results, summary of results, and video explaining findings (length, 5:31).
Delaro Complete: full results, summary of results, and video explaining findings (length, 9:27).
Endura: full results, summary of results, video explaining findings (length, 14:27).
Miravis Neo: full results, summary of results, video explaining findings (length, 7:26).
ProPulse: full results, summary of results, video explaining findings (length, 8:46).
Revytek: full results, summary of results, video explaining findings (length, 6:52).
Topsin/generic: full results, summary of results, video explaining findings (length, 9:54).
Viatude fungicide: full results, summary of results, video explaining findings (length, 5:25).
Results will be posted in March 2025 (estimated).
Results will be posted in March 2025 (estimated).
Results will be posted in March 2025 (estimated).
Results will be posted in March 2025 (estimated).
Improving management of Aphanomyces and Fusarium root rot in field peas
Multi-year, multi-location research conducted by NDSU indicates that losses to Aphanomyces and Fusarium root rot in field peas can be sharply reduced through the integrated use of planting date, fungicide seed treatment, crop rotation, and field pea variety selection. Each of these management tools confers partial management of this root disease complex, and excellent management of Aphanomyces and Fusarium root rot has been achieved by integrating these strategies. Posted below are updates on our ongoing research on optimizing these strategies for improved field pea agronomic performance under Aphanomyces and Fusarium pressure.
The impact of field pea variety selection on Aphanomyces and Fusarium root rot management in field peas : YouTube video (21:41) explaining results, shorter video (12:47).
The response fungicide seed treatment in field peas planted to fields with elevated Aphanomyces and Fusarium root rot pressure: YouTube video (1:03:13) explaining results, shorter video (12:07)
Optimizing field pea planting date in fields with elevated Aphanomyces and Fusarium root rot pressure: YouTube video (24:49) explaining results, shorter video (10:09)
Impact of crop rotation interval on field pea agronomic performance under Aphanomyes and Fusarium root rot pressure: YouTube video (55:39) explaining results, shorter video (12:00)
Over a decade of extensive multi-year, multi-location research on white mold management in soybeans at NDSU has facilitated the development of recommendations that sharply reduce losses to this disease in soybeans. Plant pathologist Michael Wunsch provides a concise summary of research results and associated management recommendations in a recorded presentation prepared for the recent ‘Getting It Right in Soybean Production’ webinar. The video presentation is available on the NDSU YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@NDSUCREC or by by clicking on the link for ‘2024 Getting it Right Soybean Production Videos’ at https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/getting-it-right.
The following management considerations are discussed at the corresponding time-points. Chapter breaks have been introduced, making it easy to find the subject materials of interest.
0:01 Introduction
4:25 1. Considerations before planting
4:35 1a. Impact of planting into winter rye
10:25 1b. Optimizing soybean row spacing
19:20 1c. Optimizing seeding rate
21:36 2. Optimizing the deployment of fungicides
24:15 2a. Optimizing fungicide application timing
44:26 2b. Optimizing fungicide droplet size
1:02:19 2c. Optimizing fungicide spray volume
1:12:35 2d. Optimizing the number of fungicide applications
Comparative efficacy of fungicides for management of white mold in soybeans: Data from all products evaluated three or more times in Carrington and Oakes, ND in studies where fungicide droplet size was calibrated relative to canopy characteristics.
Program staff include Dr. Michael Wunsch, the program leader; Jesse Hafner and Suanne Kallis, research specialists; Aaron Fauss, research technician; and a large team of seasonal high school and college students.
Inquiries and questions should be directed to Michael Wunsch at 701-652-2951 or michael.wunsch@ndsu.edu