Influence of irrigation and plant canopy architecture on white mould disease of dry bean

Citation

Kader, K.A., Balasubramanian, P.M., Chatterton, S. (2018). Influence of irrigation and plant canopy architecture on white mould disease of dry bean. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 98(6), 1280-1292. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2018-0095

Plain language summary

White mould is a disease that can negatively impact yield of dry bean. All dry bean crops in southern Alberta are grown under irrigation. The pathogen that causes white mould requires moisture to infect dry beans, and thus irrigation helps to create a favourable environment for this disease. One way to avoid the disease is by planting varieties that have an upright architecture. Plants that fall over (lodge) create more moist conditions under the canopy and increase infection. Newer cultivars tend to be more upright. The combination of varieties with upright architecture and irrigation was evaluated to determine if an optimal irrigation regime could be found to reduce disease while maintaining yield. The combined effect of plant architecture and irrigation amounts on below canopy environments was also evaluated using specialized sensors to measure leaf wetness, canopy openness, soil surface temperature and soil moisture. The amount and intensity of white mould was also measured. A reduced level of irrigation and plants with an upright structure did have reduced white mould. However, a dry bean line that had some genetic resistance, but with the tendency to lodge, had the least white mould under all irrigation treatments. Therefore, development of cultivars with both avoidance (upright architecture) and partial genetic resistance are the best options to reduce white mould severity and incidence in dry bean fields in Alberta.

Abstract

White mould caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a major constraint to irrigated dry bean production in southern Alberta. Irrigation, coupled with dry bean canopy architecture, may influence white mould by creating conducive environmental conditions. Field experiments were conducted from 2015 to 2017 at Lethbridge to determine the effect of three irrigation levels and five dry bean genotypes with different canopy architectures on white mould. Sensors and data loggers were established to monitor micro-climate data including soil moisture within the top 5 cm, leaf wetness, and soil temperature under the canopy. Canopy porosity, lodging, flower infection, and white mould disease severity were also measured. Higher moisture within the top 5 cm of the soil, lower soil temperature, elevated leaf wetness, and higher white mould incidence were observed in high irrigation plots compared with medium and low irrigation plots. Cultivars varied for leaf wetness, porosity, and lodging. Although a significant interaction between irrigation and cultivar was detected, irrigation levels did not affect disease severity significantly. Lower disease severity and incidence were recorded in AAC Burdett and Island. These cultivars have an upright growth habit, high canopy porosity, and lodging resistance, and therefore, exhibited partial field resistance (avoidance) to white mould. Mean yield across all cultivars was not affected by irrigation; however, the highest yield occurred in the medium irrigation plots. A reduced level of irrigation and development of cultivars with both avoidance and partial physiological resistance may reduce white mould severity and incidence in dry bean fields in Alberta.