Field Pea Diseases and their Management through an Integrated Approach

Pulses play an important role in improving the nutritional security of farmers and populations in less developed countries, as well as the sustainability of agriculture in dryland areas worldwide. Of the most important food legumes grown in India, field pea (Pisum sativum L.) is grown in the cool season. Biotic stresses are recognized as serious constraints for the production of field pea, which dramatically reduce crop yield and hamper productivity. Among these, fungi and viruses are the major and most important groups affecting all parts of the plant at various growth stages of the crop. According to estimates made in India, diseases alone can cause nearly 10–15% of losses in legume production. This chapter envisages the literature on different fungal diseases of field pea, especially on distribution, the biology of causal agents, symptoms, epidemiology, and their management comprising host plant resistance, cultural, biological, and fungicide use in an integrated way.