Crop: Chickpeas, Peas, Sorghum, Lentils, Faba beans, Vetch

Root rots

Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Pythium spp. and Phytophthora medicaginis

Recommended products: Evershield, Thiraflo

Root rot can occasionally be a serious disease in chickpeas, especially if soils are wet for long periods. The disease is widespread and poses a potential threat for chickpeas in all areas, particularly southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Root rots are usually detected when infected seedlings turn yellow and the leaves droop. If Phytophthora is present, seedlings suddenly wither and die without other disease symptoms above ground. Older plants dry-off prematurely. The taproot produces few side roots and is often discolored or decayed. Lesions may be visible.

Life cycle

All root rot fungi are soil-borne. They survive from season to season as spores in the soil, or on infected plant debris. In wet soils, these fungi invade plant roots. Affected seedlings gradually turn yellow and leaves droop. The taproot becomes brittle when the plant is pulled from the ground and may show signs of rotting, or a lack of lateral roots. In the case of kabuli chickpeas, seeds may rot before seedling emergence.