Researchers discover Resistance: Avirulence protein interactions between the S. sclerotiorum pathogen and canola plants. These interactions open the door to effector-guided breeding where one can select or engineer lines that no longer produce the corresponding necrosis-inducing protein receptor and are, therefore, immune to its effect. “Resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum effectors in canola,” Dwayne Hegedus, Agriculture...

Researchers identified causative genes that provide adult plant resistance (APR) to blackleg. This quantitative trait provides more durable canola resistance against the blackleg pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, particularly when combined with major race specific (qualitative) resistance genes. “Overcoming blackleg disease in canola through establishment of quantitative resistance,” Hossein Borhan, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada Saskatoon SaskCanola Read...

Researchers use a precise CRISPR/Cas9 based genome editing tool to confer clubroot resistance (CR) by introducing site-specific mutations to disrupt, or inactivate, susceptibility (S) genes. “Establishing transgene-free CRISPR/Cas9 based genome editing platform to improve canola resistance against clubroot disease,” Wei Xiao, University of Saskatchewan SaskCanola, Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund Read the full report in the...

Species-specific RNA sprays, when applied as a topical formulation, can suppress sclerotinia infection in canola. Field tests in 2022, hampered by heavy rain and dsRNA applications without a surfactant, did not show strong results for the treatments. “Protection of canola from pathogenic fungi using Ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference technologies,” Steve Whyard, University of Manitoba AgriScience...