Root rot is a major threat to the lentil industry in the United States and worldwide

Lentil is a $200 million industry uniquely adapted to the arid High Plains and Pacific Northwest, an area of the country with low crop diversity and few economical crop options to support rural communities. In addition to direct economic benefits, lentil production can be a alternative to unsustainable summer fallow acres (Long et al. 2014), can increase soil health (Zentner et al. 2001), and decrease synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use (Burgess et al. 2012).

The long-term goal of this project is to provide integrated pest management (IPM)-based options for prevention and management of root rot, to learn more about how practices interact with plant nutrition, and increase the sustainability of the pulse crop industry. The team working on this projest has a long history of working together productively, producing research and extension outcomes that impact growers, and has a tight connection with the industry.

This project set out to:

  • Discover the major species of Fusarium causes root rot in lentil;
  • Explore Fusarium species interactions and understand the role of seed transmission in establishment and spread of the disease;
  • Develop new resistant varieties of lentil using genetic marker-assisted selection techniques;
  • Determine the role of agronomic practices in establishment of a healthy crop and disease management;
  • Determine the role of agronomic practices on the nutritional content of lentil seed;
  • Engage stakeholders in using best management practices for root rot prevention; and
  • Enhance graduate student education and collaboration among international scientists in the North American growing region by supporting a student exchange program.

Project outcomes

You can find the outcomes of Building a Better Lentil here.