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Science Project  
Pea Disease Of Central Washington

Researched by Cody N.
1999-2000 

 
 

PURPOSE
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The purpose of this experiment was to determine how diseases effect pea plants, and what disease is most common.

I became interested in this idea because I wanted a project that related to where I live, and I wanted to find out more about my dad’s work at Del Monte and what goes on there.

Pea growers can use the information gained from this experiment so that they know what soil not to use in growing.

HYPOTHESIS
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My hypothesis was that the less diseases that are in the soil, the better the pea plants will grow.  The Peas will be of better quality if there are fewer diseases.  The most common disease will be Aphanomyces Root Rot.

I base my hypothesis on what other scientists have learned.  Other scientists have found that when has diseases, the plants are likely to either have stunted growth or to die.  I have read that Aphanomyces Root Rot is very common in Pea Plants.

EXPERIMENT DESIGN
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The constants in this study were:
        - Amount of light pea plants grow in
       - Amount of moisture given to the plants
       - Seeds
       - Temperature plants grow in.

The manipulated variable was the soil.

The responding variable was the health of plants.

To measure the responding variable the visual health of the plants will be measured.

MATERIALS
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QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION 
14 
Flower Pots
14 Plastic bags for soil Samples
1
Watering can
140 Pea Seeds

 
 

PROCEDURES
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1. Gather 14 soil samples
2. Put soil in 14 pots
3. Plant 10 seeds in each pot
4. Mark each pot for where Soil Sample was taken from
5. Water each pot lightly 
6. After plants start growing, water heavily
7. Check plants for Fusarium Wilt.
8. Check plants for Aphanomyces  root rot 
9. Check plants for Rhizoctonia root rot.
10. When growing experiment is finished, pull plant from the pot.
11. Look at the roots
12. Check roots for signs of Disease (especially Aphanomyces and Rhizoctonia)
13. Record data


 


RESULTS
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The original purpose of this experiment was to find out how pea plants are effected by disease, and what diseases are most common in Pea Plants.

The results of the experiment were that the plants with the most diseases were close to being dead, or completely dead.  The most common and most major disease in the pea plants was Fusarium Wilt.  Fusarium Wilt was in 37% of the plants and Rhizoctonia was in 32%.  31% of the plants were not diseased. 
 
 

CONCLUSION
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My hypothesis was that the plants with the most diseases will be of less quality than the plants with fewer diseases.  The most common disease will be Aphanomyces Root Rot.

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because the most common disease in the plants was not Aphanomyces Root Rot, but was Fusarium Wilt.

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if Fusarium Wilt is a disease often found in other plants, also.

If I were to conduct this project again I would test other plants, not only Pea plants, to see if there is a disease common to all of the different plants.


 
RESEARCH REPORT
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INTRODUCTION

Pea plants are very vulnerable to diseases.  I am doing this experiment to see what kinds of diseases are most common in Pea plants, and what they are most effected by. 

PEAS

Peas are small, green vegetables.  They belong to the family of Legumes.  Peas are very vulnerable to disease and viruses.  Pea plants can grow up to 6 feet tall.  In order for peas to grow, they need rich soil, constant moisture, and a cool growing season.  There are two types of peas, the Field Pea and the Garden Pea.  Field Peas, Pisum Sativum variety Arvense, has smooth hard seeds.  They can be many different colors, Green, Yellow, White, Gray, Blue, Brown, or Spotted.  Garden peas, Pisum Sativum, usually have Green wrinkled seeds.

SOIL

Soil is a dirt substance.  It is made of many different minerals, like Sands, Silts, Iron and many others. Organisms and animal compost are also found in soil.  Plants and all sorts of animals live in soil, along with millions of microscopic organisms.  Soil is the key to any sort of plant growth.

APHANOMYCES ROOT ROT

Aphanomyces root rot is a fungal disease often found in Peas, and many other plants.  It effects the roots of the plant.  When a plant is infected by aphanomyces root rot, the roots change their color and the pea plant produces peas of less quality.
 

NEMATODE

 The nematode is a worm that is usually too small to see with the naked eye.  They have a small needle ? like mouth that they use to puncture the stem or roots of a plant.  This is how many diseases get into plants.  By entering through the puncture made by the nematode.
 

RHIZOCTONIA

Rhizoctonia root rot is a fungal disease that can be found in many plants.  It effects the roots of the plants, and part basal stems.  The disease turns the roots and stem of the plant a reddish brown color.  The disease is caused by Rhizoctonia solani. 
 

FUSARIUM WILT

Fusarium wilt is a fungal disease found in many plants.  The disease gives the stem and leaves of the plant a yellow or brown discoloration.  The fungas can live in a field for many years, and can be spread between fields by farm equipment.
 

SUMMARY

Peas are vegetables that are used a lot in cooking.  Though peas are small, they are vulnerable to diseases and need good soil to grow.  It is good for farmers to know what the worst and most common diseases in peas are. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Babette Gundersen  -  Gunde@wsu.edu

"Pea" Microsoft Encarta 1999

"Pea" World Book Encyclopedia 1999 

Society of Nematologists  "Nematode"   (online)  Http://www.ianr.unl.edu/son/

"Soil" Microsoft Encarta 1999

"Soil" World Book Encyclopedia 1999
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