Research

Latest from the Blog

2020 Virtual Field Days Video

The year 2020 could only be described as getting used to the new normal every day and learning to accommodate collaboration virtually. Community outreach was done virtually and this video is the talk about soil microbes, crop pathology, and soils research from scientists across Montana.

Current Projects:

Developing Fusarium head blight resistant varieties for Montana in collaboration with Montana State University cereal breeders – Funded by U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative & Montana Wheat and Barley Committee

Measuring the effect of long-term rotations and previous crop on pathogens of pea and lentil – Funded by the Montana Specialty Crop Block Program

Assessment of long-term rotations and spent lime applications on soil pH, soil health, and root rot of peas and lentils – Specialty Crop Block Program

Characterization of the environmental and biological factors driving pathogen spread in Ascochyta rabiei for improved disease control in chickpea – Specialty Crop Block Program & WSARE

Evaluating pulse varieties for resistance to Rhizoctonia root rot – Specialty Crop Block Program

Measuring the effect of intercropping and essential oil seed treatments for control of Fusarium root rot of pea under field conditions – Specialty Crop Block Program

A pulse crop pest and disease survey program for Montana – Montana Pulse Crop Committee

Publication List:

Dorval M, Franck W, Khan Q, Chen C, Franck S, McVay K, McKelvy U, Burrows ME, and Crutcher FK. Ascochyta blight suppressive mechanisms and fungicide optimization in chickpea-flax intercropping. Submitted to Plant Disease Dec 19, 2025.

Crutcher FK, Kalil AK, Dorval MD, Teixera J, Carr PM, Eriksmoen ED, Rickertsen JR, McVay KA, Fordyce SI, Kahn QA, Troth EEG, and Ncube E. Planting date impacts disease progression and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) grown in the Northern Great Plains. Submitted to Plant Disease Dec 5, 2025.

Hogg AC, Hale CO, Tillet BJ, Huang L, Carr PM, Eberly J, Chen C, Kowatch-Carlson K, Crutcher F, Lamb P, McNamara K, Haney E, Kephart K, Smith V, Vetch J, Dykes L,Chen X, Liu Z, and Giroux M. 2025. Registration of ‘MT Blackbeard’ & ‘MT Raska’ durum wheat. 19, e20425

Zhou Y, Chen C, Franck WL, Franck S, Crutcher FK, Khan Q, McVay K, and McPhee K. 2023. Intercropping chickpea-flax for disease management and yield. Agronomy 115:726-743. DOI 10.1002/agj2.21280

Zhou Y, Crutcher FK, Franck WL, Franck S, McPhee K, and Chen C. 2022. The
combination of seed treatment and cultivar selection is effective for control of soilborne diseases in chickpea. Crop Protection 161:106053.

Jbir TG, Crutcher FK, Rickertsen J, Fonseka D, Friskop AJ, and Kalil AK. 2022. Effect of planting date and cultivar on Fusarium head blight, ergot, and foliar leaf spotting diseases of durum wheat. Plant Disease, in press

Hogg AC, Carr PM, Eberly JO, Chen C, Kowatch C, Crutcher FK, Lamb PF, McNamara K, Kephart KD, Smith V, Dykes L, Chen X, Huang L, Giroux MJ. 2022. Registration of ‘Lustre’ durum wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations 16:576-584.

Crutcher, FK*, Mohammed Y, Chen C, Turner S. 2022. Effects of host plant
resistance and fungicide applications on Ascochyta blight symptomology and yield of chickpea. Plant Disease 106:247-253. DOI 10.1094/PDIS-06-21-1252-RE

Parikh LP, Moparthi S, Crutcher FK, and Burrows ME. 2021. Identification of
metalaxyl and ethaboxam insensitive Pythium sylvaticum pathogenic to pulse crops in Montana, USA. Plant Health Progress 22:387-388. DOI 10.1094/PHP-01-21-0001-FI

Peluola C, Hoesel S, and Crutcher FK*. 2020. Chlorine gas is an effective alternative to sterilize carnation leaves for Fusarium spp. identification. Journal of Microbiological Methods 170:105841. DOI 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.105841

Porter LD, Kalil A, and Crutcher FK. 2020. Fusarium wilt, in: Compendium of Pea Diseases and Pests, Third Edition. R. M. Harveson et al., eds. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, pp. 19-23.