Specific Work Instructions: Pulse Crops
SWI 142.1.2-3
Table of Contents
- Date
- Contact
- Review
- Endorsement
- Distribution
- 0.0 Introduction
- 1.0 Scope
- 2.0 References
- 3.0 Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms
- 4.0 Specific Inspection Procedures
- Appendices
- I Procedures for Reduced Plant Counts
- II Field Pea Descriptions and Illustrations
- III Chickpea Descriptions and Illustrations
- IV Field Bean Descriptions and Illustrations
- V Reportable Field Bean Diseases
- VI Lupin Descriptions and Illustrations
- VII Lentil Descriptions and Illustrations
- VIII Fababean Description
- IX Diseases that May Affect Plant Appearance
Date
This version of the Pedigreed Pulse Seed Crop Inspection Procedures was issued May 15, 2011.
Contact
The contact for this Seed Program Specific Work Instruction (SWI) is the National Manager, Seed Section.
Review
This Seed Program Specific Work Instruction (SWI) is subject to periodic review. Amendments will be issued to ensure the SWI continues to meet current needs.
Endorsement
This Seed Program Specific Work Instruction is hereby approved.
Director, Field Crops and Inputs Division
Date
Distribution
The most up to date version of this document will be maintained on the CFIA Intranet and / or Internet sites. In addition, the signed original will be maintained by the National Manager, Seed Section.
0.0 Introduction
The purpose of crop inspection is to provide an unbiased inspection and completion of a report for the Canadian Seed Growers' Association (CSGA) on the isolation, condition, and purity of the crop. It is the inspector's responsibility to describe the crop as observed at the time of inspection.
1.0 Scope
This Seed Program Specific Work Instruction (SWI) outlines the procedures that a crop inspector will follow in inspecting field bean, chickpea, fababean, lentil, lupin, and pea crops for pedigreed status. The crop inspection program assists the CSGA in determining that seed crops grown for pedigreed status meet the requirements for varietal purity and crop standards as specified by the Circular 6 Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production.
2.0 References
The publications referred to in the development of this SWI are those identified in SPRA 111. In addition, the following were used:
- SWI 142.1 Pedigreed Seed Crop Inspection Procedures;
- CSGA Circular 6 Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production;
- Bean Diseases and Their Control, Agriculture Canada Publication #1758, 1984;
- Sweet White Lupin: A potential crop for Ontario, Brebaum, S. and G. L. Boland, 1995, Can. J. Plant Sci, 75: 841-849;
- Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
- Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
- British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture
- Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plant Products
- Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
3.0 Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this SWI the definitions given in SPRA 101 and the following apply,
- Anthocyanin
- The pigment ranging from red to violet to blue.
- Bean
- This includes field, garden, white, navy coloured or dry edible type bean.
- Fasciation
- The flattening of stems in some plant species.
- Internode
- The part between two nodes.
- Lentils
- This includes reclamation and green manure type.
- Node
- The place on a stem where a leaf is attached, often swollen.
- Off-types
- Plants in a seed crop that deviate in one or more characteristics from the official description of the variety.
- Pea
- This includes field, grass-pea, pigeon, maple and forage type.
- Variant
- Any seed or plant which (a) is distinct within the variety but occurs naturally within the variety, (b) is stable and predictable within a degree of reliability compared to other varieties of the same crop kind, within known tolerances and (c) was originally part of the variety as released. It is not an off-type.
3.2 Acronyms
- CFIA
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- CSGA
- Canadian Seed Grower's Association
- PRS
- Product Registration System
- QSP
- Quality System Procedure
- SPRA
- Seed Program Regulatory Authority
- SWI
- Specific Work Instruction
4.0 Specific Inspection Procedures
4.1 Assessment of Application and Preprinted Forms for Pulse Crop Inspection
If any application information is missing, the applicant should be contacted to ensure that all necessary information is present before the initial inspection of the crop.
Lentil is an early maturing crop kind with harvest, under ideal conditions, beginning in early August. Applications should be reviewed bearing in mind the timing of the crop inspection.
4.2 Inspection Requirements
Inspection of pulse crops differs from other crop kinds in that the time of inspections and number of inspections for each kind of pulse crop varies.
- Peas (all types) - one inspection in early flower stage about 60 days after planting date.
- Lentil, chickpea, and lupin - one inspection at full flower.
- Beans (field) - two inspections, one at 10-20 days after full flower, and one at maturity as leaves begin to drop.
- Fababean (low tannin varieties) - low tannin varieties - one inspection in full flower.
- Fababean (other varieties) - one inspection at maturity as leaves begin to drop.
The inspection requirements for chickling vetch (grass peas) may be found in SWI 142.1.2-5 Forage, Turf, Groundcover and Native Species Pedigreed Seed Crop Inspection Procedures.
4.3 Crop Inspection
Field bean, small seeded fababean, grain type lentil, grain and forage type lupin, and commodity type field pea varieties are subject to variety registration. Descriptions of registered varieties are available from the PRS.
Large seeded fababeans, chickpeas, green manure lentil, and forage and specialty type field peas (pigeon, marrowfat and maple) variety descriptions must be obtained from the grower or the CSGA.
Before starting the inspection, the inspector must ensure that s/he is in the correct location by matching the information from the application (including map) with the field site
4.3.1 Field Peas
Peas may include commodity, forage type and specialty peas for inspection purposes. It should be noted that mobility during inspection for pea crops may be affected by height and density as the crop matures, and therefore must be inspected at the early bloom stage.
In some exceptional cases, it may be necessary to reduce count size for field peas to closely examine off-types that are very difficult to observe in the crop. Common off-types are leafed type in semi-leafed varieties, some of which are shorter than the norm of the variety. The procedures set out in Appendix I are used in those exceptional cases when the inspector can not do six counts of 10,000 plants each. In a small count area, the off-types can be seen more readily. The procedure is rarely required and does not apply to off-types that are readily observed, such as flower colour or extreme height differences. In those cases, six counts of 10,000 plants each must still be used. The reporting requirements for reduced counts are discussed in Section 4.4 and Appendix I.
Information on the biology and distinguishing characteristics of field peas along with explanatory illustrations of plant characteristics is provided in Appendix II.
4.3.2 Chickpea
Inspectors must watch for potential mixtures of fern-type and unifoliate type varieties which are difficult to see. Information on the biology and distinguishing characteristics of chickpeas along with illustrations of chickpea is provided in Appendix III.
4.3.3 Field Bean
Information on the biology and distinguishing characteristics of field beans along with explanatory illustrations of plant characteristics is provided in Appendix IV. Recognition of different growth habits is important.
Reporting of common bacterial blight and anthracnose is required as it relates to the number and location of the diseased foci plus the approximate area (percent) of the seed crop diseased (Appendix V). Samples may be drawn to confirm the disease as per SWI 142.1 Pedigreed Seed Crop Inspection Procedure if disease incidence is very low and symptoms are not clearly evident. If the presence of anthracnose is suspected in the crop, upon exiting the crop, the inspector should apply a disinfectant to boots to mitigate disease transmission to subsequent crops. Ideally, inspections should be postponed until later in the day when the foliage has dried out to reduce the potential for disease transmission.
In plots:
The inspector should examine the entire plot in 5-6 row widths in a linear fashion and report disease infection as indicated in SWI 142.1 Pedigreed Seed Crop Inspection Procedures.
In crops:
The inspector should examine the whole crop in a random fashion. Disease infection must be reported as indicated in SWI 142.1 Pedigreed Seed Crop Inspection Procedures. If common bacterial blight or anthracnose are noted, it is important to report if the crop is uniformly infected or if it contains pockets of infection. The location of the pockets of infection should be included in a sketch of the crop.
Breeder and Probation plot isolation requirements are greater than the other pulse crops. Up to a 30 metre requirement may be needed. Foundation bean crops must be isolated by 20 metres from a crop of bean not for pedigreed inspection.
4.3.4 Lupin, Lentil and Fababean:
Information on the biology, distinguishing characteristics and, where available, the explanatory illustrations for plant characteristics of lupins, lentils and fababeans are provided in Appendices VI, VII and VIII respectively.
4.4 Completion of the Report of Seed Crop Inspection
Count sizes must be six counts of 10000 plant each. In those exceptional circumstances where reduced counts are used, this must clearly be highlighted along with an explanation of why the reduced count procedure in Appendix I was used. The inspector should indicate crop plant density in the "Comments" section of the report, particularly when dealing with reduced counts (e.g., "crop density 60 plants per sq. m."). When reduced count sizes are used, the inspector must immediately provide the grower, the CSGA, and the lead inspector, inspection supervisor or area network specialist with a copy of the Report of Seed Crop Inspection.
For field beans, the Report of Seed Crop Inspection must be held until the second inspection is complete. The inspector must report the first inspection results to the grower. If there is an isolation or purity concern after the first inspection, a copy of the Report of Seed Crop Inspection must be sent by facsimile to the CSGA.
If off-types are found in a number of fields of a particular variety, crop inspectors should notify their supervisor or Area Program Specialist and the CSGA as it may be indicative of contaminated parent seed.
The inspector should report in the "Comments" section the presence of a companion crop, where applicable. The species, variety and pedigreed status of the companion crop that was planted should also be included.
Appendices
Appendix I: Procedures for Reduced Plant Counts
When:
- under exceptional circumstances, six counts of 10000 plants each cannot be conducted due to the variety, and the nature of the variants and offtypes that are found (based on experience with the variety or based on three initial plant counts of 1000 plants), AND
- the CSGA standard for offtypes or other varieties of the same crop kind are:
Foundation and Registered - 1 per 10000
Certified - 5 per 10000,
the following procedure will be used:
| Crops producing | Initial Counts | Total Off-types found in initial counts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | >6 | ||
| Foundation | 15 counts of 1000 plants | D | A | A | D | C | C | C | D |
| Registered | 15 counts of 1000 plants | D | A | A | D | C | C | C | D |
| Certified | 10 counts of 1000 plants | D | D | D | D | B | B | B | D |
In those exceptional circumstances where reduced counts are used, this must clearly be highlighted along with an explanation of why the reduced count procedure was used. When reduced count sizes are used, the inspector must immediately provide the grower, the CSGA, and the lead inspector, inspection supervisor or area network specialist with a copy of the Report of Seed Crop Inspection.
Appendix II: Field Pea Descriptions and Illustrations
Field pea (Pisum sativum) is an annual cool-season grain legume (pulse) crop. There are two main growth types of field pea. One type has normal leaves and vines that are one to two metres in length; the second type is the semi-leafless type that has modified leaflets reduced to tendrils, resulting in shorter vines of 0.75 to 1.3 metres in length. Pea normally has a single stem but can branch from nodes below the first flower.
Most varieties of pea produce white to reddish-purple flowers, which are self-pollinated. Each flower will produce a pod containing four to nine seeds. Pea varieties either have indeterminate or determinate flowering habit.
Indeterminate flowering varieties will flower for long periods and ripening can be prolonged under cool, wet conditions. Indeterminate varieties are later in maturity ranging from 90 to 100 days. Determinate varieties will flower for a set period and ripen with an earlier maturity of 80 to 90 days. Field pea is sensitive to heat stress at flowering, which can reduce pod and seed set. Indeterminate varieties are more likely to compensate for periods of hot, dry weather and are more adapted to arid regions. Determinate, semi-leafless varieties that have good harvestability are more adapted to the wetter regions.
Flowering usually begins 40 to 50 days after planting. Flowering normally lasts for two to four weeks, depending on the flowering habit and weather during flowering.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
- plant growth type
- leaflet presence
- plant height
- shape of flower standard base
- time to maturity
- pod length, width and curvature
- plant anthocyanin colouration
- cotyledon colour
- stem vine length
- maximum number of leaflets
Stem fasciation
The expression of fasciation varies considerably due to environmental conditions, although the presence or absence of fasciation is usually clear.
Stem vine length
The vine length indicated in the variety description is generally based on harvested plants at the mature green seed stage. The measurement includes nodes with scale leaves. Both plant height at flowering and stem length at the mature green seed stage may vary with site and season due to different responses to day length, temperature and soil moisture but can be used at a single site to allow the separation of different varieties.
Number of nodes
The expression can vary due to flower abortion under certain environmental conditions. Nodes with scale leaves should be included in the observation.
Axil anthocyanin colouration
The colour can be reddish purple or pink in varieties with anthocyanin colouration. The assessment of the expression of colouration of the axil should be made over the whole plant; double rings may not always be clearly defined at any one particular node. The latter is best observed on the underside of the stipules.
Maximum number of leaflets
The maximum expression should be recorded over the whole plant. The occasional plant may have a larger number of leaflets. The maximum number of leaflets for a sample of plants should be recorded and an average value calculated.
Leaf margin dentations
The observation should be made over the whole plant, with the exception of the lowest six nodes and aerial and basal branches.
Leaf indentation degree
Petiole length
The observations should only be made at the second fertile node on varieties without leaflets. The length should be recorded from the axil to the point where the first tendril occurs.
Stipule development
Rudimentary stipules are lanceolate and surface area is reduced significantly by up to 80%. Plants with "Rabbit-eared" stipules are not examples of rudimentary stipules.
"Rabbit-eared" stipules
"Rabbit-eared" stipules are parallel, rather than divergent, with pointed tips.
Stipule size
The observations for length and width should be made at the second fertile node. To measure stipule size, the stipules should be detached from the plant and flattened. The width of the stipule is measured at the widest part.
Peduncle length
This characteristic should be measured from the axil to the first node or bend in the peduncle.
Stipule marbling
The observations should be made over the whole plant. In order to assess, the plant should have at least eight nodes, since flecking in some varieties may not be expressed at lower nodes.
Stipule marbling density
Flower standard base shape
The observations should be made on a sample of a minimum of 20 different plants. The standard should be detached from the flower and flattened on a hard surface for observation.
Pod length
The length should be measured at the second fertile node on a sample of at least 20 plants. Pods should be fully developed or swollen. Green seed should be firm and becoming starchy.
Pod width
The width should be measured at the second fertile node on a sample of at least 20 plants. The measurements should be taken from suture to suture on unopened pods.
Pod parchment
The observation should be made on a sample from different plants when the pods are dry and papery.
The pod should be opened along the suture without damaging the edges of the two valves. The distribution of sclerenchyma, which makes up the parchment, may either be observed by reflecting light (preferably daylight) on the inside of the pod wall.
If parchment for any pod is difficult to determine, pods from other nodes on the same plant should be examined.
Degree of pod curvature
Direction of pod curvature
Distal part shape of pod
The observations should be made only on varieties without a thickened pod wall. They should be made on a sample of plants and on several nodes of each plant when pods are fully developed. Care should be taken where pods are strongly curved, where the beak is longer than the pod tip, or where parchment is not entire. Some varieties have a blunt tip which is rounded, but the beak is higher up the pod.
Pod colour
Varieties with yellow pods may also have milky yellowish peduncles and sepals. In the presence of anthocyanin, colouration of the pods will appear pale red.
The appearance of green pods is the result of yellow, purple and blue-green colours not being expressed.
Blue-green pods are dark and slightly bluish, but not as blue as blue-green foliage. The colour develops with time and may be more accentuated in hotter, drier conditions.
The expression of purple pods can be variable and unstable, often disappearing on the same plant or being reduced in its distribution on the pod.
Strings of pod suture
The observations should be made on fully developed pods. If assessed when pods are not fully developed, strings of suture will be absent or partial. The expression is best observed when temperatures exceed 20°C. With cooler conditions and/or more developed pods, strings of suture will appear later than normal. The occurrence of less wrinkled seeds in compound starch grain types appears to be associated with the absence or reduction of strings of suture.
Anthocyanin colouration of pod suture
The observations should be made on varieties known to contain anthocyanin. Observations should be made over the whole plant when pods are well developed and are beginning to dry out.
Intensity of green colour of immature seed
The observations should be made when the seed is firm, but before seeds become starchy to taste.
Seed with green cotyledons may appear creamy white before the seed is fully developed. Varieties with blue-green pods may also have very dark green seed colour.
Appendix III: Chickpea Descriptions and Illustrations
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is classified into "desi" or "kabuli" types based primarily on seed colour. Desi chickpea has a pigmented (tan to black) thick seed coat and small seed size along with coloured flowers. Kabuli chickpea, sometimes called "Garbanzo bean", has thin, white to cream-coloured seed coats and range in size from small to large (>100 to <50 seeds/30 g). Kabuli type chickpeas have white flowers.
Chickpeas mature later than dry pea or lentil, and prefer a longer, warmer growing season. Desi chickpea flowers one day to one week earlier than kabuli types, depending on the specific varieties being compared. Large-seeded kabuli varieties generally mature one to two weeks later than desi types, but new Canadian kabuli varieties have been bred for earlier maturity. Average maturity will range from 100 to 130 days depending on the variety and the climatic conditions.
The chickpea plant is erect with primary and secondary branching, resembling a small bush. There are two leaf types, the "fern" leaf with multiple leaflets attached to a leaf stem, and the single or "unifoliate" leaf that is present on some kabuli varieties. Most varieties have fern type leaves that are about 5 cm in length with 9-15 leaflets. The plant flowers profusely and has an indeterminate growth habit, continuing to flower and set pods as long as climatic conditions are favourable. Chickpeas are predominately self-pollinating, however, cross-pollination by insects does occur.
The pods are short, inflated and oval and typically contain one to two seeds. Plant height typically ranges from 25 to 65 cm, with kabuli types often slightly taller than desi types. The lowest seed pods are typically 10 to 15 cm from the soil surface under dryland conditions.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
- plant height and attitude
- leaflet type, colour, length and width
- presence of stem anthocyanin
- flowering time
- flower and stem colour
- pod length and width
- green pod colour intensity
- maturity date
- seed colour, shape and ribbing
Appendix IV: Field Bean Descriptions and Illustrations
Two basic plant types are found in dry edible bean, determinate (bush) or indeterminate (vining or trailing). Varieties may be classified according to plant types. For example, navy beans may be either of the bush or vining type.
There are three main growth habits of dry bean:
Type I - determinate bush type;
Type II - indeterminate bush type;
Type III - indeterminate vine type.
The determinate growth habit has five to nine nodes on the main stem with two to several branches. Stem elongation ceases when the terminal flower racemes of the main stem or lateral branches have developed. The indeterminate growth habit may have 12 to 15 nodes on the main stem. On indeterminate types, flowering and pod filling will continue simultaneously or alternately as long as temperature and moisture permit growth to occur.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
- plant growth type
- time to maturity
- vine length
- terminal leaflet shape
- flower standard and wing colours
- flower standard colour
- pod beak length
- pod length
- pod curvature
- pod pigment
- seed colour
Degree of pod curvature
Shape of pod curvature
Seed shape
Appendix V: Reportable Field Bean Diseases
Bacterial blight inspections are done 10-20 days after full bloom when leaves are green and attached and the first pods are about an inch long. Evidence of bacterial blight is determined by leaf symptoms.
Common Bacterial Blight
Common bacterial blight and fuscous blight are caused by Xanthomonas phaseoli and X. phaseoli var. fuscans. The symptoms of these diseases are virtually identical and the two diseases can only be distinguished in the laboratory. However, the two organisms may differ in the bean varieties that they infect.
These two diseases are the most economically important bacterial bean diseases in Canada and they usually occur in late July and August and become progressively more severe as the field beans reach maturity.
The initial symptoms usually occur on the leaves. Infected leaves develop water-soaked or pale green spots that later turn brown and dry. These spots may merge to form irregular blotches of varying size. However, each spot or blotch has a narrow chlorotic margin around it. Similar spots may occur on the pods but in this case they may appear somewhat cankerous and greasy. The pod spots may merge to form blotches that have a reddish brown discolouration.
Bean Anthracnose
Bean anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, is almost worldwide in distribution. The disease is economically important as it affects seed quality, yield and marketability. There are numerous major races of the fungus that are characterized by the varieties they attack. Many varieties have been bred for resistance to one of more of the races.
Although infection may occur on both sides of the leaf and on the petiole, early signs of infection usually appear on the lower leaf surface along the veins, which show brick red to purplish red discolouration. Later, such discolouration also appears on the upper leaf surface. At the same time, brown lesions of various sizes with black, brown or purplish red margins develop around small veins.
Dark brown eyespots that develop longitudinally along the stems are an early sign of stem infection. In the young seedling, the eyespots enlarge and the stem may break off. On older stems, the eye shaped lesion is limited to an approximate length of 5-7 mm and the lesion often has a sunken cankerous centre.
The most striking disease symptoms are small brown specks on rusty brown spots which appear on the pods. As the spots enlarge, their centres turn brown and many tiny black specks appear randomly on the brown area, replacing the brown specks. Each of the tiny black specks contains a mass of pinkish spores, often visible as a viscous droplet in humid conditions. The lesions on the pod usually reach a diameter of 5-8 mm. They are slightly sunken at the centre and have a dark brown or purplish brown margin.
The seeds of heavily infected pods may show brown to light chocolate coloured spots on the seed coats. In badly infected seeds, the lesions may extend into the cotyledon.
Appendix VI: Lupin Descriptions and Illustrations
Lupins are among the oldest cultivated crops in the world. The three most important agricultural species are the white lupin (Lupinus albus), yellow lupin (L. luteus) and blue lupin (L. angustifolius). The white lupin exists in both low (sweet) and high alkaloid (bitter) forms.
Sweet white lupin is an annual row crop that develops a vertical primary stem approximately 0.8 m tall with primary and secondary branches. Leaves are alternate, palmately divided into 10-15 narrowly oblong leaflets. The leaflets are smooth or hairy above, and very hairy beneath. Individual plants produce clusters of 3-7 pods, each containing 3-7 seeds. The seeds are cream-coloured and irregularly circular, and up to 6 cm in diameter. This species is primarily cross-pollinated but up to 50-85% self-pollination has been reported. Sweet white lupin is sensitive to low temperatures and photoperiod during germination; high temperatures during germination and long days may delay flowering. This species has an indeterminate growth habit so the plant may not mature uniformly. Lupins are grown for both grain and green manure.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
- plant height at maturity
- growth habit
- leaf colour at maturity
- time to maturity
- presence and intensity of stem anthocyanin
- pod attitude
- terminal leaflet length and width
- flower colour
- flower carina tip colour
- pod length
- flowering time
- seed colour and speckling at maturity
Length of uppermost terminal leaflet
Keel tip colour of flower
Appendix VII: Lentil Descriptions and Illustrations
Lentil is classified into two types: Chilean or large-seeded (greater than 50 g per 1000 seeds) and Persian or small-seeded (40 g or less per 1000 seeds). Seed coat colour can vary from clear to light green to deep purple, mottled, grey, brown or black. Cotyledon (seed leaf) colour is yellow, red or green. The two main market classes are green and red.
Lentil plants are typically short compared to cereal crops, ranging from 20 to 75 cm in height. The first two nodes on the stem develop below or at the soil surface and are known as scale nodes. Injury to young lentil seedlings by late spring frost, heat canker or wind damage may cause the plant to initiate re-growth from a scale node below the soil surface. The third node on the stem is the usual site of the first leaf development. Lentil seedlings can produce a new node every four to five days under good growing conditions. Just prior to flowering, new leaves will develop a short tendril at the leaf tip.
Leaves are about 5 cm long with 9 to 15 leaflets. Lentil plants have an indeterminate growth habit allowing them to continue to flower until there is some form of stress such as moisture, nutrient deficiency, or high temperature. Flowers are self-pollinated.
Flower stalks produce one to three flowers which develop pods. Pods are less than 2.5 cm in length and contain one or two seeds. Most of the seed is produced by the aerial branches which form from the uppermost nodes on the main stem just below the first flowering node.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
- plant height
- flower colour
- number stem nodes to first flower
- ripe pod colour
- time to flowering
- seed size and coat pattern
- time to maturity
- hilum and cotyledon colours
Testa pattern
Appendix VIII: Fababean Description
Vicia faba is an annual plant with coarse, upright and unbranched stems, 0.3-2 m tall, with 1 or more hollow stems coming from the base. The leaves are alternate, pinnate and consist of 2-6 leaflets, each up to 8 cm long. Unlike most other members of the genus, it is without tendrils or with rudimentary tendrils.
Flowers are large, white with dark purple markings, borne on short pedicels in clusters of 1-5 on each axillary raceme usually between the 5th and 10th node; 1-4 pods develop from each flower cluster, and growth is indeterminate, though determinate mutants can occur. About 30% of the plants in a population are cross-fertilized and the main insect pollinators are bumblebees. There is a robust tap root with profusely branched secondary roots.
Based on seed size, two subspecies were recognized, paucijuga and faba. The latter was subdivided into var. minor with small rounded seeds (1 cm long), var. equina with medium sized seeds (1.5 cm) and var. major with large broad flat seeds (2.5 cm). (Bond et al., 1985; Smart, 1990).
Distinguishing Characteristics:
- plant height
- plant growth habit and type
- presence and intensity of stem anthocyanin
- leaf colour
- basal leaflet length and width
- flowering time
- flower colour
- presence of melanin spots on flower wings and standards
- presence and distribution of flower standard anthocyanin
- pod length (excluding beak) and attitude
- pod colour and curvature
- seed size and coat colour
| Abbreviation | Discription |
|---|---|
| BUSH | Bush type plants |
| LM | Later (less mature) |
| LP | Leafy plants |
| LWF | Leafed, White Flowers |
| PFL | Purple flowered, leafed |
| PFSL | Purple flowered, semi-leafless |
| SLP | Semi-leafless plants |
| TPF | Taller, purple flowers |
| TFS | Taller, purple on stems |
| TWF | Taller, white flowers |
| VINE | Vine type |
| WFL | White flowered, leafed |
| WO | Wild Oat |
Appendix IX : Diseases that May Affect Plant Appearance
Ascochyta Blight
Lentil, field pea, chickpea and faba bean all suffer from fungal diseases known as "ascochyta blight". Each crop is affected by a different species of ascochyta. As a result, lentil ascochyta will not spread to pea nor will pea ascochyta spread to lentil.
Ascochyta Blight of Faba Bean
Leaf spots are grey to brown, oval, and up to 1 cm in diameter with definite margins. Small, black pycnidia form in the center of lesions, often in a concentric ring pattern. Leaf spots may merge into irregular black patches causing a blighted appearance. Stem lesions are more elongated, usually sunken and reddish brown. Pod lesions are often sunken, tan to black, and frequently have darker margins. Infected seed may be discoloured and shrivelled.
Ascochyta Blight of Chickpea
All above-ground portions of the plant are likely to show symptoms which begin as dark, sunken lesions. These soon erupt in pycnidia which often exhibit a pattern of concentric rings. Lesions may cause girdling of the stems or dieback of all plant parts above the lesions.
Ascochyta Blight of Pea
Leaf and stem symptoms include small, purplish-black, irregular flecks, which enlarge to 5 mm in diameter. Spots may also be brown with darker margins. Severe infection leads to drying of leaves, and stems may be blighted or girdled. On pods, lesions are initially small and dark, but purplish-brown discolouration may become extensive. Pycnidia (small, black spore-producing structures) may be produced on leaf or pod spots. Pod infection may lead to seed infection. Infected seed may occasionally be shrunken or discoloured but is more often symptomless. When infected seed is planted, seedlings with leaf spots or foot rot symptoms may be produced, or seedlings may die before emergence. Foot rot appears as purplish-black discolouration just above the soil line.
Ascochyta Blight of Lentil
Symptoms appear on leaves, stems and pods as white to tan coloured spots, often with a darker margin. The centers of lesions are often speckled with tiny, black fruiting bodies (pycnidia) which contain the spores of the fungus. When the disease becomes severe, leaves may drop prematurely and shoots may be blighted. Dieback and flower and pod abortion are the main causes of yield loss.
Seed discolouration develops later in the season after pods are infected. At this time, the seed surface becomes partially or completely brownish purple. Discolouration can continue to develop even after the crop is in the swath, particularly under damp weather conditions. Affected seed may also be shrivelled, and may have patches of white fungal growth and pycnidia on the surface.
Sclerotinia
This disease affects dry beans, field peas, and lentils. The symptoms usually develop several weeks after flowering begins. The plants develop pale-grey to white lesions, at or above the soil line and on upper branches and pods. The infections often develop where the leaf and the stem join because the infected petals lodge there. Infected stems appear bleached and tend to shred. Hard black fungal bodies, of varying sizes, develop within the infected stems, branches, or pods. Plants with girdled stems wilt and ripen prematurely.
Anthracnose of Lentils
Typical field symptoms are lodged plants with abnormally dark-brown stems. The lesions appear on the pods, stems, leaves, and seed. The lesions are grey to black in colour and appear sunken. A salmon-coloured ooze may appear in the centre of the lesion. The lesions may start out as small black spots. In mid-season, the leaves may start to fall off rapidly. The leaf veins will appear darkened. The stem will darken in colour and appear weakened.
Powdery Mildew of Field Peas
Powdery mildew is a widespread disease that is often most prevalent on late-maturing field peas. In severe infestations, brown, pitted spots may occur on pods and the seed may be visibly affected. Premature ripening may result in shrunken seed.
Powdery mildew overwinters on plant debris. It appears as cottony-white to tan fungal colonies and yellowed blotches on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. It develops more severely on the lower leaves but it can infect any of the leaves in cool, humid weather. When the disease is severe, the peas are stunted, turn yellow, and defoliate.
A lush stand of peas is an ideal environment for powdery mildew development. Dew formation and lack of rainfall also favour the development of the disease. Optimum temperatures for development are between 20-25 ° C (68-75 ° F). Rain showers are actually disruptive to the spread of powdery mildew. The inoculum is spread by wind. Once it is established, powdery mildew increases very rapidly.
Symptoms consist of a light, greyish, powdery growth on the leaves, pods and occasionally on the stems. This powdery growth is easily rubbed off. As the plant ages, tiny fruiting bodies of the fungus often form in the powdery growth. They develop as spots that enlarge and merge to cover the entire surface of the leaves, pods and stems.
Foot Rot and Mycosphaerella Blight of Field Peas
Both fungi are stubble, seed, and soil borne and can survive for several years in the soil as resting spores. Initial infection occurs as the plant shoots come in contact with resting spores or by the fungus growing from seed across the point of attachment to the seedling. Infection from the seed develops as a foot lesion. Spores are produced from reproductive bodies of the fungus, and are released during wet weather to initiate leaf infection. During the growing season, new reproductive bodies are produced and release spores during wet periods to establish new infections.
Symptoms of foot rot usually begin at the point of seed attachment and extend as a bluish-black lesion to above the soil line.
Blight symptoms occur on leaves as small, purple lesions with indefinite margins that turn brownish-black and develop a target-like appearance. Lesions coalesce and leaves may dry up but remain attached to the stem. The lesions on the stem are purple and may extend 10 mm above and below the point of leaf attachment. Infection of the flowers cause the blossoms to drop. Small, purple lesions develop on infected pods. The pods may shrink if the infection is severe. Infected seeds may show various degrees of shrinkage and discolouration or they may show no signs of infection.
The inspector should look for bluish-black lesions on the stem, noting that stem lesions may merge and give the entire lower stem a bluish-black appearance. Infected pods are covered with small, purple lesions. The pods may appear shrunken if the infection is severe.
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