Sclerotinia stem rot field nursery for evaluation of resistance and fungicide efficacy

Researcher:

Ralph Lange and Rodney Werezuk, Alberta Research Council

Project Code:

AG#2006-07

Final Report:

March 23, 2008

Summary:

A two year study was initiated to design, construct and make operational a field scale Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) disease nursery structure, in which infection would not be dependant on the weather, but rather relied upon due to the controlled environment within the nursery. Despite heavily inoculation with highly virulent Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ascospores and provision of humidity by misting throughout the latter half of the canola growing period, no SSR symptoms were observed in the nursery in year one (2006) of the study. In light of the disappointing performance of the pilot-scale nursery, the expansion of the nursery planned for year two was cancelled; however improvements to the structure were made to improve the chances of developing infection.