Seed is sampled for Ascochyta-Plus and nematode testing according to ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) protocols and guidelines.  Samples are initially handled by the Montana State Seed lab, an AOSA lab (Association of Official Seed Analysts).

Tests and test packages:

  1. Ascochyta-Plus: $180/sample (chickpea, pea, and lentil)

  2. Smart-B: $350/sample (chickpea, pea, and lentil)

  3. Smart-V: $350/sample (pea)

  4. Comprehensive: $450/sample (chickpea, pea, and lentil)

  5. Nematode: $50/sample (typically chickpea and lentil)

  6. BSMV testing: $100 (barley)

  7. Blackleg testing: $150 (canola)

RUSH FEE: Rush fee is $100.  Rush means that your sample will be placed ahead of other non-rush samples in the queue; it does not reduce the amount of time a test takes.  We discourage Rush, as it’s best to send your samples ahead of time.

Description of test packages: 

  1. Ascochyta-Plus: $180/sample (heading 3 for each of the numbered test names)

    Required seed: ½ lb. for lentil, 1lb. for dry pea, 2 lb. for chickpea

    Tests for the following fungal pathogens:

    Pathogen

    Disease

    Ascochyta (now Didymella, Peyronellaea)

    Ascochyta Blight

    Botrytis species

    Gray mold

    Colletotrichum species

    Anthracnose Blight

    Sclerotinia species

    White mold

    Stemphylium species

    Leaf blight (late season)
  2. Smart-B: $350/sample

    Required seed: 1.5 lb. for lentil, 2.5 lb. for dry pea and chickpea.

    Test package includes an Ascochyta-Plus test and a test for Bacterial Blight agents (Pseudomonas syringae pv pisi and pv syringae).

  3. Smart-V: $350/sample

    Required seed: 2.5 lb. for dry pea.

    Test package includes an Ascochyta-Plus test and an ELISA test for pea seedborne mosaic virus (PSbMV).

  4. Comprehensive: $450/sample

    Required seed: 2.5 lb. for lentil, 5 lb. for dry pea and chickpea.

    Test package includes an Ascochyta-Plus test, an ELISA test for pea seedborne mosaic virus (PSbMV), and a test for Bacterial Blight agents (Pseudomonas syringae pv pisi and pv syringae).

  5. Nematode: $35/sample

    Required seed: 1 lb. all crops.

    This test is typically conducted on chickpea and lentil for export, but can be conducted on any crops. Tests for the following nematodes: Ditylenchus spp. (stem and bulb nematode) and Heterodera spp. (cyst nematode).

  6. BSMV (Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus) testing: $100/sample

    Required seed: 1 lb.

    This is an ELISA test for barley stripe mosaic virus. BSMV infects barley, but the test may be required for other cereals for testing or export purposes.

  7. Blackleg testing: $150/sample

    Required seed: 1 lb. canola

    Tests for the following fungal pathogens:

    Pathogen

    Disease

    Leptosphaeria maculans
      (Phoma lingam)

    Aggressive blackleg/Phoma stem canker

    Leptosphaeria biglobosa
          (Phoma herbarum)

    Non-aggressive blackleg/Phoma stem canker


We can provide tests for other pulse crop pathogens not listed above. If you want us to test for other pathogens not currently on our list, please contact us. Infrequently-requested virus tests include: Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV), alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). Infrequently-requested fungal pathogen tests include Fusarium species and Rhizoctonia solani.

If you observe any disease symptom on your pulse crops, contact your county agent, or take good, color photos of the diseased tissues and send them to us, or contact the Schutter Diagnostic Lab (link to “contact the Schutter Diagnostic lab”: https://diagnostics.montana.edu).