Why is this research important for Alberta ag?
Canola growers rely on fungicides to control sclerotinia stem rot in seasons with wet weather conditions, such as those that occurred in 2024 in parts of western Canada. Increased resistance of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to certain fungicides has been detected in all canola-producing areas of the world; however, very little information is publicly available regarding the situation in Canada.
It's important to know whether resistance to certain fungicides occurs in Canada, especially since there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the sensitivity of S. sclerotiorum to the fungicides currently used in canola and most other crops. Labs with expertise in fungicide resistance testing are not publicly available anywhere in Canada or North America.
What benefits can producers expect from this research?
This research will represent the full spectrum of fungicides and fungicide-mixtures registered for stem rot control in canola and, therefore, provide a more complete picture of S. sclerotinia fungicide sensitivity on the Canadian Prairies.
This information will help producers in making decisions about which fungicides to apply in their fields, and help fungicide manufacturers regarding marketing of the most effective products.
How will these research findings reach producers on-farm?
Methods, results, and conclusions will be published in peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journals. Results will also be shared with producers and stakeholders in the fungicide industry in a timely manner via presentations at industry meetings and in articles in grower magazines.