Healthy Seeds, Healthy Start: We test your pulse crops for pathogens and pests

Who We Are

  • A regional diagnostic laboratory providing services for Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon and Washington.
  • The only laboratory exclusively dedicated to pulse crop diagnostics. Pulse crops consist of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), and field pea (Pisum sativum L.). 

  • Our goal is to increase pulse productivity by reducing pathogen-related decline in yield through rigorous testing of seed lots for economically important pathogens.

  •  We are supported by Farm Bill APHIS 10201 funding, the Montana Department of Agriculture, MSU College of Agriculture, and the Dept. of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman.

  •  We collaborate with the Montana State Seed Testing Laboratory to offer general seed tests and tests for pathogens of pulse crops.

Why Test Seeds?

Seed-transmitted pathogens can introduce new diseases and can perpetuate existing infestations. This results in yield reduction and poor quality seed. Testing helps identify healthy seed lots for planting, mitigating against pathogen-induced losses.

In addition, importing countries have varying acceptable thresholds for seedborne pathogens. Many require exporting countries to test their seed lots to certify that they do not exceed thresholds or the pathogen is not present.  In order for the importing country to receive a shipment, it may require a ‘phytosanitary certificate.’ 

Information on pathogens of pulse crops can be obtained from the followings links below:

The Pulse Crop Diagnostic Laboratory is currently managed by:

Erin Gunnink Troth, Lab Manager
Department of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717
Tel: 406-994-7738
Email: pulsediagnostics@montana.edu