The Manitoba Canola Growers Association is investing $130 thousand in a Pathogen Surveillance Initiative, with the first phase of the project focusing on detecting low concentrations of clubroot disease.
"We have seen the real impact clubroot infections (CR) have on Brassica crops including canola in other areas of western Canada and want to be proactive to protect the income of Manitoba's 9,000 canola growers from this devastating soil borne plant pest, " said MCGA president Ed Rempel, after making the announcement at the organization's annual general meeting at CropConnect on Tuesday. "2013 was the first time Manitoba has experienced CR-positive plant samples and so the time to act is now."
The funds will be used to establish a specialized 'molecular' laboratory to collect, process and analyze soil samples for clubroot at very low levels and before plant symptoms are present.
The organization is anticipating further government funding for the initiative through Growing Forward 2.
Source: SteinbachOnline