VEGREVILLE, Alta. – Farmers may soon have help in fighting blackleg, one of the most devastating canola diseases.
Scientists at the Alberta Research Centre in Vegreville have isolated a bacterium that kills blackleg in the lab and reduces the disease on the plant.
Prem Kharbanda said they are working on two ways to introduce the blackleg-fighting bacteria. They are looking at introducing the bacteria onto a type of compost that could be spread over stubble in the fall. This would also help control other canola diseases, including sclerotinia, stem rot and root rot.
The scientists are also looking at isolating the gene and inserting it into the canola plant to develop a blackleg-resistant canola
“If we can produce a plant that is resistant to the disease, that is the most economical way,” said Kharbanda, of Vegreville.
The disease has the potential to become a bigger problem as more farmers use herbicide-resistant canolas. There are few herbicide-resistant canolas that will withstand blackleg.
It is estimated blackleg has the potential to cause $50 million in canola damage each year.
