No abstract

Feng, J., Hwang, R., Chang, K. F., Conner, R. L., Hwang, S. F., Strelkov, S. E., Gossen, B. D., McLaren, D. L. and Xue, A. G. 2011. Identification of microsatellite markers linked to quantitative trait loci controlling resistance to Fusarium root rot in field pea. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 199–204. Fusarium root rot, caused by Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. f. sp. pisi (F. R. Jones) W. C. Snyder & H. N. Hans, is the most common root disease of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) in western Canada. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (n=71) of field pea, derived from crosses between a resistant cultivar Carman, and a susceptible cultivar Reward, was evaluated to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling resistance to Fusarium root rot. The parental genotypes and RILs were evaluated for resistance to root rot following inoculation with F. solani in field experiments during 2007 and 2008. The frequency distribution of disease severities among the RILs was continuous. Transgressive segregation for resistance was observed among the RILs, with five lines more resistant than Carman, but no lines were more susceptible than Reward. To identify DNA markers linked with the resistance, 213 microsatellite markers were screened with genomic DNA from the two parental cultivars. Only 14 markers were polymorphic between the two parents and were used to genotype each of the RILs. Quantitative trait loci analysis based on the mean disease severity data from 2007 and 2008 identified a QTL that explained 39.0% of the phenotypic variance in the RIL population. This QTL is flanked by markers AA416 and AB60 on linkage group VII. The microsatellite markers that are closely linked to this QTL may be useful for marker assisted selection to develop cultivars with superior Fusarium root rot resistance.

Conner, R. L., Chang, K. F., Hwang, S. F., Warkentin, T. D. and McRae, K. B. 2013. Assessment of tolerance for reducing yield losses in field pea caused by Aphanomyces root rot. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 473–482. Aphanomyces root rot, caused by Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs., is a serious disease of peas (Pisum sativum) that can severely reduce seed yield, and few effective control measures are available. The development of pea cultivars with tolerance or partial resistance to Aphanomyces root rot is generally considered to be one of the best options to reduce yield loss. A 4-yr field study was conducted at disease-free sites and at an Aphanomyces root rot site to compare the responses of cultivars and lines in the presence and absence of Aphanomyces root rot, identify breeding lines with tolerance and to evaluate the effects of tolerance on plant growth, disease severity and yield. At the Aphanomyces root rot site, a second test was established in which the phosphite fungicide Phostrol™ was applied as a soil drench treatment to the pea cultivars and lines. Aphanomyces root rot reduced seedling emergence, biomass production and yield in the susceptible pea genotypes. However, line 00-2067 consistently produced relatively high yields at all the field sites. At the Aphanomyces root rot site, yield was closely associated with plant vigour and shoot weight. Small, but significant, differences (P<0.05) in disease severity were observed between susceptible cultivars and tolerant lines indicating that the lines producing high yields at the Aphanomyces root rot site are tolerant rather than partially resistant. The root/shoot weight ratio was very low in the tolerant lines, indicating that even though their root systems were reduced and severely damaged by root rot, they were still able to produce high yields under favourable conditions for the disease. Drench application of the fungicide Phostrol™ did not significantly reduce root rot severity or improve the performance of any of the pea cultivars or lines.

Hwang, S. F., Ahmed, H. U., Turnbull, G. D., Gossen, B. D. and Strelkov, S. E. 2015. Effect of seeding date and depth, seed size and fungicide treatment on Fusarium and Pythium seedling blight of canola. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 293–301. Seedling blight has a substantial impact on stand establishment and productivity of canola (Brassica napus) on the Canadian prairies. The effects of seeding date, seed size, seeding depth, and seed treatment fungicides on seedling blight of canola caused by Fusarium avenaceum and Pythium ultimum were evaluated under field conditions. In the trials inoculated with P. ultimum, early seeding reduced seedling emergence and seed yield in all 3 yr of the study. However, the interaction of F. avenaceum with seeding date was not consistent; inoculation with F. avenaceum reduced seedling emergence in early seeded canola in 1 of 4 yr, but emergence was higher in early than in mid-seeded treatments in 2 yr and there was no difference among seeding dates in 1 yr. Late seeding reduced seed yield in 2 of 4 yr in the F. avenaceum study. Seed size and seeding depth generally did not have an effect on seedling establishment or seed yield for either pathogen. Seed treatment with Helix Xtra (thiamethoxam+difenconazole+metalaxyl+fludioxonil) and Prosper FX (clothianidin+carboxin+trifloxystrobin+metalaxyl) fungicides increased seedling emergence and yield compared with the F. avenaceum-inoculated control. Seed treatment with Helix Xtra also increased seedling emergence and seed yield compared with the P. ultimum-inoculated control. Manipulation of seeding date did not substantially improve stand establishment or yield of canola when inoculum pressure was high. Seed treatment was the most effective strategy for reducing losses caused by seedling blight of canola in fields infested with F. avenaceum or P. ultimum.

Hwang, S. F., Cao, T., Xiao, Q., Ahmed, H. U., Manolii, V. P., Turnbull, G. D., Gossen, B. D., Peng, G. and Strelkov, S. E. 2012. Effects of fungicide, seeding date and seedling age on clubroot severity, seedling emergence and yield of canola. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 1175–1186. The infestation of seeds by Plasmodiophora brassicae can result in the transmission of clubroot disease in canola. Five fungicides, including Dynasty 100 FS (azoxystrobin), Helix Xtra (thiamethoxam+difenoconazole+metataxyl+fludioxonil), NebijinTM 5SC (flusulfamide), Prosper FX (clothianidin+carbathiin+trifloxystrobin+metalaxyl), and Vitavax RS (carbathiin+thiram), were evaluated under greenhouse conditions using artificially infested canola seeds for their efficacy in eliminating seed-borne inoculum. All of the fungicides significantly reduced clubroot relative to the non-treated control, but NebijinTM 5SC and Dynasty 100 FS were the most effective. However, in field trials with Cruiser 5 FS (thiamethoxam), Helix Xtra, Dynasty, Prosper and Sedaxane (pyrazole anilide) applied alone or as a mixture, none of the treatments reduced clubroot severity or improved seedling emergence or yield compared with the insecticidal control (Cruiser 5 FS) in the susceptible cultivar. Clubroot severity was lower in early-seeded canola compared with the late-seeded crops in 2 site-years. The younger seedlings had greater disease severity and reduced plant height and yield than did older seedlings in both resistant and susceptible canola cultivars. We conclude that a combination of approaches including seed treatments and manipulation of seeding dates in conjunction with deployment of resistant cultivars is necessary for the sustainable management of clubroot in canola.