Research Objective

• Provide the industry and producers with updated L. maculans race profiles in Western Canada
• Analyze how L. maculans race profiles are changing
• Identify L. maculans races that could overcome blackleg resistance in the near future
• Develop a SNP-array technology for more efficient L. maculans monitoring

Project Description

Blackleg, specifically Leptosphaeria maculans, is becoming an increasing problem for canola producers in western Canada. There are many races of blackleg that have different profiles (aka Avr genes), which makes it a challenge for the grower in choosing a cultivar with the correct resistance to combat this. To choose, the grower needs to know the specific race of L. maculans that is in there field and there is change over time. This project seeks to build on previous L. maculans race research and develop an updated profile for Western Canada. This would show how the L. maculans populations are changing and moving, and give an approximation to farmers of which resistance cultivars to use in their fields. Also, Dr. Yu will be developing a SNP-array technology (which takes a look at the nucleotide level of a pathogen to characterize its) so that producers could send samples of blackleg to a diagnostic lab and they would be able to determine what resistant cultivar to use to combat this. The information from this study will help guide the deployment and rotation of canola cultivars carrying different resistance genes for more effective control of blackleg in western Canada. This outcome will reduce the negative yield/quality impact of disease on the farm and may alleviate the pressure with export by minimizing the pathogen inoculum load on seed and dockage.