b'Plants early in the season infected with Aphanomyces.PHOTO: SHERRILYN PHELPS, SASKATCHEWAN PULSE GROWERSIn soil testing, Fatima says 20/20 recommends soil samples from waterlogged areas in suspected infected fields. The soil should be taken and kept in a sealed bag. Seed testing can be done but it is not recommended as Aphanomyces is not thought to be seed borne. If a seed is submitted, they test the soilEvery Aphanomyces positive attached to the seed.Every Aphanomyces positive sample we have at the lab hassample we have at the lab some levels of fusarium infection. So, more often than not,has some levels of fusarium fusarium is with Aphanomyces root rot, Fatima says. infection. So, more often Future HopeThere are reasons to be optimistic about the future fightthan not, fusarium is with against Aphanomyces. At the University of Saskatchewan CropAphanomyces root rot. Development Centre (U of S CDC), they have been studying the pathogen and are working on breeding Aphanomyces resistant Samiya Fatimapea varieties.The team has looked internationally for help in their breeding work. Researchers in the United States Pacific Northwest and France have been working on Aphanomyces resistanceThis past summer we had about 15 of these populations in breeding for the past two decades. The pathogen has beenthe field, mainly for seed multiplication. Our plan is to take infecting pulse crops there longer. these into multi location trials starting this coming spring to see U.S. and French researchers have screened germplasm fromhow they look, both from a disease resistance point of view and various pea collections around the world and have found somefrom all the other points of view, in terms of how they yield and which are partially resistant to Aphanomyces. They have madelodging, maturity and seed quality, he says.crosses between these germplasms and varieties with peaHowever, these varieties wont get into farmers hands for varieties from their regions and have been able to develop peaanother seven or more years. The U of S plans to start variety varieties which are partially resistant to Aphanomyces.registration trials in 2022, then release them in 2024 or 2025, At the U of S, they have built on the work done by their U.S.with a few more years of seed multiplication required before and French counterparts crossing partially resistant varietiessome of the varieties will finally become commercially available with CDC pea varieties, Tom Warkentin, the pulse cropin 2028 at the earliest. breeding and genetics chair at the University of Saskatchewan With files from Marc Zienkiewiczexplains. Ashley Robinson64seed.ab.ca'