FORECASTING THE RISK OF SCLEROTINIA STEM ROT IN CROPS

摘要

TITLE FORECASTING THE RISK OF SCLEROTINIA STEM ROT IN CROPS INVENTORS Robin A.A. Morrall T. Kelly Turkington Richard K. Gugel Sheldon V. Rude Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is a major disease of rapeseed (canola) in western Canada and many other parts of the world. Significant yield losses result from severe crop infestations. A method of stem rot disease forecasting is disclosed. The method is based on the relationship discovered between infestation of top plant parts with spores of the fungus at early bloom and subsequent disease incidence. Also disclosed are media compositions, which facilitate rapid growth of S. sclerotiorum from plant parts under non-sterile conditions and thereby permit detection of the fungus. This forecasting system allows improved disease risk assessment in advance of the need for spraying against sclerotinia stem rot.