The Western Producer: Verticillium may undermine canola blackleg resistance

Emerging research suggests a troubling twist in canola disease management: when verticillium stripe is present in a field, the resistance to blackleg built into many canola cultivars appears to break down.

“What we have discovered very recently is that not only do these two pathogens cause disease, but they interact in such a way that the disease is increased, even when you grow a blackleg resistant canola variety,” University of Manitoba plant science professor Dilantha Fernando said.

“It appears blackleg resistance cannot be maintained in the presence of the verticillium.”

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