Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the most important pathogens affecting canola and other susceptible crops such as dry bean in western Canada. In canola, even a yield loss of 3% would cost producers approximately $13M yearly.
Researchers in Saskatchewan conducted a three-year trial from 2006 to 2008 to assess the potential of pushing canola as a pre-harvest management option compared to swathing, pushing and/or desiccating, and straight cutting canola.
The development of early maturing canola is crucial to the northern canola growing areas of western Canada. Although B. rapa has several advantages over B. napus, producers currently have very few cultivars from which to choose, and only one with resistance to blackleg.
Juncea canola can be considered as an alternate oilseed crop that is adapted to the semiarid areas of the northern Great Plains where high temperature and drought stresses often limit the productivity of conventional napus and rapa canola species.
Most of Canada’s canola crop is produced using certified seed. With rising input costs, some producers are tempted to save and replant seed (farm-saved seed) grown from a hybrid variety.
In Canada, Aster Yellows Disease (AY), caused by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ affects several economically important crops including canola. Until recently, the disease has been considered to be of little importance, however, in 2007 crop production losses were higher than estimated with the visual AY assessment.
Flexibility in rotation planning allows canola and field pea producers to adapt to changing management practices and marketing opportunities. Current recommendations are to follow a one in four year rotation for canola or field pea on a particular field.
Technologies have been developed to control the extensive feeding that occurs in Canola (Brassica napus) due to the crucifer flea beetle.
The clubroot pathogen, Plasmodiophora brassicae is now established as a pest of canola in central Alberta and may be spreading to other regions of the province.
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), and can cause severe economic damage to Argentine canola. Researchers know that if it were available, genetic resistance to SSR would be an attractive option to canola growers.
Ecoclimatic modeling indicates that most of Canada is suitable for establishment of swede midge, including most of Saskatchewan. In 2007, swede midge were found in three fields in Saskatchewan for the first time.
The first objective of this study was to investigate the effect of production practices on the quality and vigour of open-pollinated Argentine canola. Seeding date and swathing time of the mother crop had a significant effect on seed quality.
