October 5, 2021 – A new factsheet available at clubroot.ca helps distill the key practices to mitigate clubroot and maintain profitability, including growing clubroot-resistant (CR) cultivars responsibly on all canola acres.
In 2020, only 39 per cent of the canola cultivars grown in the Canadian Prairies were CR (Canadian Grain Commission, 2020). While CR will be a standard feature on most canola hybrids by 2025, canola growers should start to use CR and other integrated management strategies immediately.
Clubroot is the disease caused by soil-borne spores of the protist and obligate parasite, Plasmodiophora brassicae. Spores spread easily and early infections can be missed for years while clubroot susceptible canola multiplies spores to catastrophic levels. Planting CR cultivars before the disease gets established will help slow spore reproduction. Keeping spore concentration low helps maintain yield and protect CR traits. Growers who wait until the disease has taken hold in a field before choosing CR could be stuck with challenging levels of clubroot for a long time.
Higher concentrations of P. brassicae spores lead to larger clubroot galls, more risk to yield, more resting spores released back to the soil and fewer management options. Integrate these practices to keep spores low:
- Crop rotation
- Scouting
- Grow clubroot resistance (CR) on all canola acres
- Control brassica weeds in all crops
- Patch management
Preventing the introduction and spread of P. brassicae spores will prevent the clubroot disease from establishing and spreading. Integrate these practices to keep spores local:
- Biosecurity
- Reduce tillage
- Patch management
Visit clubroot.ca to learn more.
About the Canola Council of Canada:
The Canola Council of Canada is a full value chain organization representing canola growers, processors, life science companies and exporters. Keep it Coming 2025 is the strategic plan to ensure the canola industry’s continued growth, demand, stability and success – achieving 52 bushels per acre to meet global market demand of 26 million metric tonnes by the year 2025.
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Media may contact:
Heidi Dancho
Director, Communications
204-227-5731
danchoh@canolacouncil.org
