Root maggots, principally the cabbage maggot, have increased in incidence and damage severity in canola in all three Prairie Provinces. Currently, estimates of average annual losses from root maggot damage range from $20 million to $75 million; in years of severe infestation, losses may reach $100 million.
Crucifer-feeding flea beetles, principally Phyllotreta cruciferae (crucifer flea beetle) and P. striolata (striped flea beetle) are the most economically damaging insect pests of canola on the Canadian prairies.
Given the extreme wet conditions in Southeast Saskatchewan during the seeding season of 2011, producers attempted to use innovative ways of seeding their canola.
Canola can be significantly affected by diseases such as sclerotinia stem rot, blackleg and alternaria black spot resulting in loss of crop productivity and quality.
Traditionally swathing is recommended for napus canola over straight-combining because of the risks of yield loss due to shattering.
Clubroot is a serious soil-borne disease of canola caused by the pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae. Multiple genes that can be clearly identified and stacked or rotated are required for long-term effectiveness of clubroot management toward protecting canola yield.
Blackleg is a serious disease of canola caused by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans. A number of different sources of partial resistance genes (Rlm) to blackleg disease have been identified and characterized in several Brassica napus cultivars.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan initiated a study in 2000 to develop a non-transgenic, GMS system in canola (Brassica napus) using chemicals to restore fertility.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan conducted a three-year study to determine if cost-effective biosorbents from canola meal would have potential for industrial application of dehydration of ethanol, other alcohols or gases.
In a previous study (Project Code: CARP2006-02) AAFC researchers determined the race structure of Leptosphaeria maculans, the species responsible for the most damaging symptoms of blackleg of canola in Canada.
It is well known that a contact herbicide such as Liberty is less effective on hard-to-wet weeds such as wild oat or cleavers. Wild oat control can be improved by tank-mixing with a Group 1 graminicide; however, there are no tank-mixes that will improve control of cleavers.
Producers have noted much more severe infestations of seedling blight and root rot in canola fields. Researchers conducted both field and greenhouse studies from 2007 to 2010 to identify the organisms associated with the increased incidence of root rot in hybrid canola crops, and to determine how to optimize cultural methods to reduce the impact of seedling blight and root rot on canola seedling populations and on plant yield.
