Lentil Disease Diagnostic Series: Bean Leaf Roll

Authors: AGINDOTAN, BRIGHT - Montana State University; Porter, Lyndon

Submitted to: Extension Reports
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2019
Publication Date: 2/1/2019
Citation: Agindotan, B., Porter, L.D. 2019. Lentil Disease Diagnostic Series: Bean Leaf Roll. Extension Reports. PP1913.

Interpretive Summary: A short and concise disease diagnostic card was developed to help growers rapidly diagnose Bean leaf roll on lentil through descriptions and color photographs of symptoms commonly associated with the disease. The card also provides important factors that favor disease, facts regarding how to manage the disease ,and other factors that could potentially be mistaken in appearance for Bean leaf roll virus infection.

Technical Abstract: Bean leaf roll caused by Bean leaf roll virus (BLRV) is a major disease of lentil. The following symptoms typically are associated with BLRV: 1) yellowing of leaves, beginning at the top of the plant, 2) stunting of plants, 3) abnormally small leaves, and 4) absence of rolling symptoms in lentil leaves. Factors favoring disease development include: 1) presence of other legume crops and weeds infected with the virus, 2) pea, cowpea, potato and vetch aphids present that vector the virus and 3) movement of aphids from alfalfa fields during cuttings. Important facts about BLRV are: 1) virus is not seed-transmitted, 2) aphids transmit virus persistently and are responsible for disease epidemics, 3) BLRV infects pea, chickpea, lentil, alfalfa and other legumes, and 4) disease control is by monitoring and spraying for aphids and planting resistant or tolerant varieties if available.