Every year there is a risk of sclerotinia to canola growers in Central Alberta, and agriculture officials are suggesting the environmental conditions are unfortunately right for the fungus's development this year.矛I think we're going to see a lot of sclerotinia,卯 said Harry Brook, crop specialist for Alberta Agriculture, in a recent press release.矛The conditions are ideal again this year. I can see sclerotinia being a very nasty surprise when harvest comes this fall,卯 said Brook.Red Deer County's agriculture services manager agrees.矛It's warm and humid, a lot of moisture in the soil,卯 said Art Preachuk.矛The conditions are very conducive to the disease. But, if we haven't had it before, it may not be that prevalent.卯He notes that proper crop rotations (waiting until the fourth year to replant a crop) have proven an effective method of prevention of the fungus.矛But if you've been growing canola every year, chances are right that it could whack you this year,卯 he said.Mountain View County's Jane Fulton said a past history with the disease, along with increased soil moisture conditions and crop canopy will contribute to an increased risk and spread of the disease.矛Once the symptoms of sclerotinia show in a canola field, it is already too late to take action,卯 said Fulton, agriculture services manager MVC.矛Foliar fungicide application is recommended in the early bloom stage, and canola within Mountain View County is in the early podding stage.卯Preachuk said the canopy of the canola closes in, creating a sort of a 矛micro-culture卯 underneath, making it impossible to dry out.矛It's hot and humid, and the canopy sort of holds the moisture in. The sun and the wind doesn't get in there.卯Heavy dews and daily drizzles have also contributed to this, he said.Sclerotinia is produced from a mushroom-type fungus that shoots a spore out, infecting the plants, which become covered in a white mould.Preachuk said quite often it goes unnoticed until harvest time. 矛It can severely effect yield,卯 he said.矛Typically it hasn't been that big of a problem here because we don't get that hot, humid type of summer.卯矛If it is hot and humid, there is potential.卯Preachuk encourages canola producers to check for sclerotia, which are hard, black, fungal bodies about two cm long, which can remain dormant in soil for up to five years or more.矛They should be vigilant and scouting their fields,卯 said Preachuk.Fulton suggests that canola producers visit the Canola Council of Alberta's website for related resources and a list of regional agronomists on staff to field their questions.For a list of Alberta's agronomists, visit http://canola.ab.ca/ccc_agronomists.aspx.
