Aphanomyces root rot in legumes: Current insights into the pathosystem and its control

Legumes, due to their unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, are a key factor in sustainable agriculture. However, like other crops, their production is affected by biotic and abiotic factors. Among them, Aphanomyces root rot is a significant threat in legume production globally. Peas and lentils manifest the most devastating consequences of this disease, but in the actual environmentally changing scenario, similar consequences could be extended to other legume crops. Although comprehensive studies have been performed on Aphanomyces euteiches- legume pathosystem, the basis of their interaction is poorly understood due to its complexity and the highly diverse populations of this pathogen. In addition to these facts, the capacity of A. euteiches to adopt resting structures and to infect several legume species makes its management especially challenging. To date, only partially resistant accessions have been described, while chemical control effectiveness is limited to the seedling stage. Consequently, cultural practices, including crop rotations and determining infection levels prior to sowing, represent the sole reliable strategies nowadays. This review summarises the actual knowledge of A. eutieches -legume pathosystem as well as presents current strategies for its control and their limitations.