New clubroot pathotype in Alberta.

This is a different pathotype that none of the commercially available clubroot resistant varieties in Western Canada is effective at managing,” says Strelkov. ”

With fall approaching it is time crucial to remember that clubroot is in Yellowhead County. Clubroot is a soilborne disease that reduces yields of cruciferous crops such as canola, mustards and some vegetables. The disease causes galls or clubs to form on the root systems of infected plants, which then restricts the nutrient and water uptake of the plants. It could potentially reduce the overall yield of crops depending on the severity of clubroot infection in the soil.

Please note that Yellowhead County Pest Inspectors will be scouting for this disease in canola and other Brassicaceae fields throughout Yellowhead County from approximately August 22 to September 30. Scouts will be taking all possible preventative measures to limit the spread of the disease.

Equipment sanitation is essential to preventing the establishment of clubroot, as the primary way this disease spreads is by soil movement from infected fields to noninfected fields. The spread of this disease can happen by soils falling off machinery, vehicles and offhighway vehicles; wind and water erosion are also factors.

Rotation of crops is highly recommended to prevent the severity of clubroot. Continuous cropping of canola may increase the likelihood and severity of an infection. There are no treatments currently available for clubroot-infected fields or plants, so prevention practices are highly recommended. Preventative measures to lower the risk of clubroot are as follows:

• Check fields regularly and look for abnormalities such as galls and clubs on roots, premature ripening and wilting plants.

• Sanitise machinery, vehicles and equipment before moving into a new area with a solution of one percent bleach and 99 per cent water.

• Use clubroot resistant varieties of seed for planting.

In 2015 a new clubroot pathotype was confirmed in the Edmonton region that can overcome resistant varieties of seed, termed Pathotype 5x. Dr Stephen Strelkov at the University of Alberta looked at samples collected from several fields and was able to verify higher levels of infection than expected in some clubroot resistant varieties. “This is a different pathotype that none of the commercially available clubroot resistant varieties in Western Canada is effective at managing,” says Strelkov.

The Canola Council of Canada has advised that canola growers and agronomists scout their clubroot resistant varieties this summer with extra effort and vigilance. A focused survey in the Edmonton region has been underway to help better understand the pathogen’s prevalence and distribution.

Please see www. clubroot.ca for more details or contact the Yellowhead County Agricultural Department in the Wildwood County Office at 53404 Rge Rd 92A or call toll free: 1 800 8143935.