Science Edition 2023—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...
Read More Science Edition 2023—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...
Read More Science Edition 2023—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...
Read More Science Edition 2023—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...
Read More Science Edition 2023—Recommendations from this large study include apply 130-147 lb./ac. of nitrogen in the Black soil zone and 76-89 lb./ac. in the Brown soil zone. This is a balance between canola yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and maximum economic returns. “Improving nitrogen use efficiency and soil sustainability in canola production across Canada,” Bao-Luo Ma, Agriculture and...
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