Disease management
Blackleg, clubroot and sclerotinia continue to be a triple threat for Western Canadian canola crops. These devastating
diseases can result in yield losses of up to 50%. Nutrien Ag Solutions has invested heavily in researching the best
disease packages and developing new hybrids with genetics proven to combat current predominant blackleg strains,
as well as high resistance to newly emerging and well-established clubroot pathotypes.
Blackleg
Blackleg resistance has been available in commercial canola
varieties since the early 1990s. A shift towards increasingly
virulent strains of the blackleg fungus has resulted in
the breakdown of resistance in many traditional canola
varieties. Increasing canola acreage and shortened rotations
have contributed to this.
Newer R-rated hybrids have been tested against current
strains of the fungus and provide good protection against
blackleg in the majority of locations.
Nutrien Ag Solutions varieties are tested thoroughly
across Western Canada and Proven Seed has a leading
line-up of new R-rated varieties. PV 533 G has consistently
demonstrated exceptional blackleg resistance effective
against current prevalent strains of the fungus. The next
generation of hybrids from Proven Seed, including new
PV 540 G, offer world-class protection with our continued
evolution of blackleg resistance genetics.
As the clubroot threat continues to evolve, canola varieties
with multiple effective resistance genes are the first line
of defense, offering additional protection and durability. Crop
rotation is central to long-term disease management and
will help preserve the resistance genetics currently available.
Proven Seed introduced the first and only true multigenic
canola variety with PV 580 GC. Now it’s time for the next
evolution in clubroot defense, PV 585 GC, which boasts
superior resistance to both clubroot and blackleg, along
with strong yields.
Intermediate rated hybrid
PV 580 GC – Multigenic
Sclerotinia
DK 74-44 BL (L) vs PV 540 G (R)
Clubroot
Clubroot is a serious threat to both current and future canola
production due to its high potential for adaptation, especially
in regions of intense canola production and shortened
rotations. Clubroot has many strains which can exist in
the soil of an infested field. Since the disease was identified
as problematic in canola in 2003, the predominant strain
in fields has been P3. Resistance in most clubroot-resistant
(CR) hybrids is becoming ineffective as multiple new strains
are virulent on these hybrids, including the 5X strain.
Sclerotinia stem rot is one of the most destructive diseases
in western Canadian canola. The severity of sclerotinia
is extremely variable from year to year, region-to-region
and even from field to field. Sclerotinia has become more
serious as canola production has increased, likely due
to a combination of more acres of canola in rotations
and management practices that contribute to high yields,
but also produce dense canopies, which are a better
microclimate for disease development.
Foliar fungicides remain the main control strategy for
sclerotinia. But seeding a variety with tolerance to sclerotinia
also reduces your risk.
PV 591 GCS from Nutrien Ag Solutions features the Pioneer
Protector ® sclerotinia resistance trait. This trait provides
several benefits to growers including a reduction in disease
incidence, increased flexibility and insurance when timing
fungicide applications, convenience as sclerotinia protection
is planted with the seed, and control regardless of weather
patterns throughout the entire growing season.
Canola
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