news briefs
plant diseases
Clubroot is officially present in Manitoba, the provincial government confirmed last week.
Manitoba Agriculture announced that clubroot DNA appeared in soil samples taken from six fields in 2012.
“Further tests done under ideal greenhouse conditions indicate that two of the six soil samples produced weak clubroot gall symptoms on highly susceptible plants,” the government said. “These test results are considered positive cases of clubroot, with viable spores able to produce disease.”
Manitoba Agriculture didn’t release locations of the positive tests.The province announced last April that soil samples taken in August 2011 tested positive for low levels of clubroot DNA.
“We’re specifically saying that Manitoba is still clubroot-free because we haven’t had symptoms on plants,” Manitoba Agriculture plant pathologist Holly Derksen said in April.
“In this field, there are no symptoms observed on the plants.”
However, provincial specialists will closely monitor the sites this year.
As well, Manitoba Agriculture is encouraging canola growers to adopt appropriate practices to prevent clubroot spread, including proper crop rotation and weed management.
