Insect/Disease/Weeds
Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds
The Prairie Weed Monitoring Network (PWMN): Building a Strong Biovigilance Foundation
- Project Status: In Progress
- Principal Investigators: Dr. Charles Geddes
- Project Dates: 2023 – 2028
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Abstract/Summary:
As every farmer knows, weeds are one of the major pests on farms. That’s why POGA has agreed to help fund a project to monitor new weeds and herbicide resistance on current weeds in western Canada so hopefully producers, scientists and chemical companies can stay ahead of the curve.
Objectives are to:
- Establish the Prairie Weed Monitoring Network (PWMN), a network of federal researchers, provincial specialists, and academics guiding weed biovigilance for the prairie region.
- Complete the seventh set of weed abundance surveys in the prairie provinces since this series of provincial surveys began in the mid-1970s.
- Complete the fifth set of pre-harvest herbicide-resistant weed surveys in the prairie provinces since this series of provincial resistance surveys began in the early-2000s.
- Complete the third set of post-harvest herbicide-resistant kochia and Russian thistle surveys in the prairie provinces since this set of provincial surveys began in the early-2010s.
- Complete a spatial risk assessment for the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds in prairie cropping systems by integrating data from weed surveys, species-specific biology, cropping systems, and herbicide sales/use.
- Develop tools to forecast weed community behaviour and range shifts in response to management factors and climate change.
This project aims to develop the Prairie Weed Monitoring Network (PWMN) and to implement a
comprehensive weed biovigilance strategy, including: weed monitoring, risk assessment, and
forecasting for the prairie region of Canada. It will include detailed assessments of (i) weed
abundance in 4000 fields, (ii) herbicide-resistant (HR) weeds pre-harvest in 800 fields, and (iii)
HR kochia and Russian thistle post-harvest in 800 fields, across the prairie provinces. These data,
and those of past surveys, will be leveraged along with other open data resources to conduct
spatial risk analyses for the evolution of HR weed biotypes of greatest concern and where they are
most likely to occur, in addition to the development of a tool to forecast weed community shifts in
response to management factors and climate change. Overall, this coordinated suite of objectives
will provide farmers, agronomists, agricultural industry, researchers, and policy makers with
information required to manage weeds effectively, anticipate new weed threats to farming
systems, and mitigate selection pressure for HR weeds.
Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds
- Project Status: In Progress
- Principal Investigators: Dr. Thomas Turkington
- Project Dates: April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2028
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Abstract/Summary:
The goal is to further develop and formalize the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN), including annual in-person and/or online meetings. The group also will look to further develop and refine survey protocols, and continue work on disease information and awareness initiatives for a wider range of crops and diseases.
The PCDMN Quick Disease Reporter Tool will be refined, and work will be done to develop disease assessment and risk assessment tools, as well as blackleg pathogen mapping. The network is also continuing their weekly cereal rust risk forecasts from mid-May to early June; new for 2023 is the addition of oat crown rust.
Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds
- Project Status: Completed
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Abstract/Summary:
This survey provides a record of seed-borne pathogen trends in pulse and cereal crops and allows for continued tracking of diseases over time. The interim seed quality data, from the time of harvest until the end of December, provided early insights into seed quality trends and helped to identify potential pathogens of concern and their prevalence across the province.
The survey is intended to provide a benchmark for annual seed-borne pathogen levels across the province. Low disease levels of seed produced during 2021 has been a positive outcome of a challenging growing season. Largely attributed to extreme drought conditions during the growing season and at the time of harvest, interim data indicates a large proportion of pathogen-free pulse (lentil, field pea, chickpea) and cereal (barley, durum, oat, and spring wheat) seed.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture compiled the maps, which show the mean infection levels of the samples as well as the historical trends across all pathogens and crops.
This project was funded by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat), Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), and Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats)
Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds
- Project Status: In Progress
- Principal Investigators: Dr. Christian Willenborg
- Project Dates: April 2018 - March 2023
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Abstract/Summary:
Wild oat management is perhaps most challenging in oat crops because the genetic similarity between the two species precludes selective control with herbicides. However, it may be possible to utilize new technology with current herbicides to better manage wild in oat crops. This project sought to assess the competitive ability of modern oat cultivars, as well as to test whether combining inter-row spraying with weed wicking could improve wild oat control.
Multiple inter-row and wicking applications of herbicides at the 2- and 4-leaf crop stages provided the best combination of crop yield and minimum wild oat in the harvested sample. By employing inter-row spraying with modern competitive oat cultivars, growers should improve wild oat management in tame oat production.
Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds
- Project Status: Completed
- Principal Investigators: Paul Bullock (University of Manitoba) and Randy Kutcher (University of Saskatchewan)
- Project Dates: April 2018 - March 2023
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Abstract/Summary:
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a fungal disease affecting cereal crops in Canada that reduces productivity and produces mycotoxins in the grain. This fungal disease is caused by a number of Fusarium species of which Fusarium graminearum is considered the most important because of its abundance, its toxin producing ability and its impact on grain quality and yield. Currently the most important practices recommended to cereal growers for FHB management include non-host crops in the rotation, resistant cultivars, and application of fungicides.
Cultural management of FHB of cereals, in particular crop rotation or the sequence of crops grown, can play a major role in an integrated management approach to FHB (Gilbert and Haber 2013), as well as many other pest and agronomic issues. However, there are no studies in Canada that clearly indicate the impact on FHB of various cereals due to the previous crop(s) cultivated.
The goal of this research is to improve yield and quality in Canada through the implementation of effective crop sequences to mitigate FHB.
Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds
- Project Status: Completed
- Principal Investigators: Sheryl A. Tittlemier, Richard Blagden, Jason Chan, Mike Roscoe, Kerri Pleskach
- Abstract/Summary: This project was a collaborative venture with funding contributed by the Canadian Grain Commission, the Prairie Oat Growers Association, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, and the Canada-Saskatchewan Growing Forward 2 bi-lateral agreement.
Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds
- Project Status: Completed
- Abstract/Summary: Over the four years (2014-2017) that field surveys were conducted in commercial oat fields to evaluate the prevalence of oat leaf blotch pathogens P. avenae was the most often identified, being present in 59% of the 160 fields surveyed. Cochliobolus sativus was present in 23% of surveyed fields while S. avenae was only identified in 3% of fields. The ranking prevalence of these pathogens was consistent across all four years and differs from prior surveys conducted where S. avenae was observed in all years and with greater prevalence than C. sativus in most years (2011-2013).
Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds
- Project Status: Completed
- Abstract/Summary: The study takes a look at the occurrence of toxigenic Fusarium and Penicillium fungi and their associated mycotoxins, and an investigation of the fate of Fusarium and Penicillium species and their associated mycotoxins during processing of oats.
