Dozens of research plots in Western Canada are being tested for clubroot before canola is seeded in an effort to stop the disease from spreading.
In February, the Western Canada Canola/Rapeseed Recommending Committee required all 37 of its sites be tested for clubroot.
Raymond Gadoua, the recommending committee co-ordinator, said the committee has had guidelines in place for several years to reduce the spread of infection, but thought it was time to make clubroot testing mandatory.
“We just decided it was appropriate for us as an organization that runs field trials to test for the presence of clubroot beforehand,” said Gadoua, who works with the Canola Council of Canada in Saskatoon.
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“This year is the first that has required testing for the presence of clubroot at a research site. It’s a situation very present on the industry’s mind.”
None of the soil samples have tested positive for clubroot, he added.
Farmers have been coping with the soil borne disease for six years, mainly in central Alberta.
Last year it was confirmed in two Cargill disease observation nurseries in north- central Saskatchewan, and this spring clubroot DNA was confirmed in two Manitoba farms.
“The initial perception was it was fairly isolated,” said Gadoua.
Murray Hartman, Alberta Agriculture’s oilseed specialist, said soil testing for clubroot is now also mandatory on the 30 canola performance trials in Western Canada.
Trials grown on clubroot infected land would be worthless because the patchy emergence of canola infected with the disease would make the data unreliable.
It’s also important for researchers to know if clubroot is in the soil so that they don’t unknowingly spread it between plots, Hartman said.
John Waterer, national agronomy manager for Cargill Canada, said the company conducted soil tests on its clubroot trials locations for a number of years before and after seeding. It was through this testing, and an astute pathologist, that the company discovered clubroot in its canola research plots last year.
“It’s a good thing we found it. It’s a good wake-up call to everyone in the industry,” said Waterer.
It’s also a reminder to practice good soil sanitation, use clubroot resistant varieties and good crop rotation, he added.
Darrel Armstrong, Monsanto Canada’s Canada stewardship lead, said the company recently reviewed its policy.
Soil testing is mandatory before using any research site.
Discovery of clubroot in Saskatchewan gave the company added incentive to change its policies.
It also follows a strict equipment sanitation protocol in high risk areas, especially around Edmonton, he said.
