Pulse check: Innovative research tackles root rot and boosts protein in Canadian crops

In the heart of Canada’s agricultural research efforts, two significant projects are making strides toward solving critical challenges in modern farming. From combating destructive root rot in pulse crops to addressing the sustainability of crop rotations, researchers are exploring innovative solutions to ensure longevity in our agricultural future.

Root rot, a complex and persistent disease affecting pulse crops such as peas and lentils, has posed a growing challenge for Western Canadian farmers. To address this issue, a comprehensive five-year research initiative was launched in early 2024, spearheaded by a team of researchers from the University of Saskatchewan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the National Research Council of Canada.

The project, backed by provincial funding through the Strategic Research Initiative and additional support from industry groups across the Prairies, aims to deliver practical, science-driven solutions to mitigate root rot.

Professor Sabine Banniza, a Strategic Research Chair in pulse crop pathology, leads this ambitious project, which adopts a comprehensive approach to understanding and managing root rot. The research encompasses four major pillars: resistance breeding, pathogen biology, control strategies, and rotational studies.

Dr. Sabine Banniza (Photo: Chris Hendrickson)

Resistance breeding focuses on integrating root rot resistance into elite pea and lentil germplasm.

"We've identified some promising sources of resistance over the years," explains Banniza.

Now, Banniza and her team are working on incorporating these traits into high-yielding, lodging-resistant varieties to provide farmers with crops that are both resilient and profitable. Pathogen biology studies work to understand the interaction between various pathogens that contribute to the root rot complex. The team is also developing advanced diagnostic tools that will allow farmers to identify the spectrum of pathogens present in their fields quickly and accurately.

Control strategies are another cornerstone of the project, including biological control methods and novel RNA silencing techniques.

"RNA silencing is a new strategy," says Banniza. "You try to prevent the pathogen from synthesizing some of the molecules, for example, toxins, that it needs to infect a root."

This innovative approach aims to introduce a highly targeted and potent alternative to traditional fungicides.

One key component of the research, and perhaps the most eagerly anticipated by farmers, is a long-term rotational study. Root rot pathogens are notorious for their ability to survive in soil for years, leaving farmers wondering how long they must wait before safely reintroducing pulse crops.

"This rotation study is quite overdue," says Banniza. "We plan to evaluate various rotational strategies, including extended breaks between pulse crops, to determine the most effective approaches for disease management."

While the project is in its early stages, the research team hopes to secure additional funding to extend the rotation study beyond the initial five years, aiming for a total duration of 13–15 years.

The first year of this initiative has been a period of planning and groundwork. "It’s a massive effort involving three research institutions and six funding sources," notes Banniza.

Despite the delays, they’re optimistic about catching up on certain activities as the project progresses.

Another important initiative explores an opportunity to improve crop quality through enhanced protein in pea varieties. This project is co-led by Dr. Bunyamin Tar’an and Dr. Tom Warkentin, a professor and Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program Chair in Field Pea and Soybean Crop Breeding and Genetics.

Dr. Tom Warkentin (Photo: Chris Hendrickson)

The P-POD project—short for "Pea Protein Omic Determination"—explores the idea of breeding peas that have very good yield and greater protein than the varieties currently on the market.

″With the P-POD project, we tried to understand the genetic control of protein content in pea seeds,″ says Dr. Warkentin. ″Because if we understand it, then we can develop DNA markers associated with parts of the genome of pea that are controlling protein content and use them in breeding.

Their research proved successful, leading to the identification of several key genomic regions linked to protein content in peas.

″We discovered about eight or 10 important regions in the pea genome associated with protein content,″ he says. ″And in parallel, in our breeding program, we've made steady gains in increasing the yield of the peas, while at the same time also increasing the protein concentration.″

Dr. Warkentin hopes the success of the P-POD project will serve as inspiration for further investment into breeding research in Canada.

″I think the long-term trajectory is very good for pulse crops.″

Both research initiatives highlight the critical role of innovation in addressing the challenges faced by modern agriculture. For Saskatchewan, where pulse crops are a cornerstone of the economy, the implications are particularly significant. Root rot not only threatens yields but also impacts the profitability and sustainability of pulse crop farming. By developing resistant crop varieties, advanced diagnostic tools and effective control strategies, researchers are equipping producers with the tools they need to combat this persistent threat.

With a strong foundation in research and collaboration, these projects represent a step forward in supporting farmers and ensuring a resilient agricultural sector.