Integrated Pest Management

Predatory nematodes provide biocontrol option for canola pests

Although impact varied among species, predatory nematodes belonging to the Steinernema genus provided significant mortality of diamondback moth, lygus bug, cabbage root maggots and black cutworms. “Biocontrol potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against selected key insect pests of canola in Alberta” Shabeg Briar and Paul Tiege, Olds College Alberta Canola Crop losses and the economic...

Integrated Pest Management

Sign up to help the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network

The Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPMN) provides forecasts, risk maps and monitoring protocols for crop pest insects across Western Canada. It also provides a free weekly update during the growing season. Anyone can subscribe at prairiepest.ca. “Coordinated monitoring of field crop insect pests in the Prairie Ecosystem” Meghan Vankosky, AAFC Saskatoon SaskCanola, Manitoba Canola Growers,...

Integrated Pest Management

Uniformity of sprayer deposition needs improvement

The range in on-target spray deposition volume across the width of sprayers was unexpectedly large for this study. With each sprayer pass, some targets only received one third of the intended dose while others received triple the intended dose. “Characterizing turbulent spray deposition from self-propelled sprayers” Tom Wolf, Agrimetrix SaskCanola, Alberta Canola To find the...

Genetics

Canola lines with corn genes yield more, have stronger stems

CRISPR technology was used to generate a range of starch branching enzyme (SBE) mutants in canola. Sbe quadruple and sextuple mutants were used for expressing maize endosperm SBEI and effects on growth, morphology, flowering and yield determined. Introduction of corn SBEI into quadruple mutants (four canola genes edited) repeatedly led to increased total seed yield...

Genetics

A new gene for blackleg resistance

AAFC researchers completed the genetic mapping of blackleg resistance gene Rlm11. Rlm11 is effective against L. maculans isolates carrying the avirulence gene AvrLm11, which is found in 95 per cent of L. maculans isolates collected from Western Canadian canola farms. Canola lines with Rlm11 will enable canola farmers to effectively control the blackleg disease. “Introgression...