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Characterizing canaryseed germplasm for Fusarium Blight and enhanced herbicide tolerance

Posted on 26.06.2017 | Last Modified 09.03.2020
Lead Researcher (PI): Pierre Hucl
Institution: University of Saskatchewan
Total WGRF Funding: $129,028
Co-Funders: Agriculture Development Fund, Canaryseed Development Commission in Saskatchewan
Start Date: 2017
Project Length: 3 Years
Objectives:

To evaluate the world collection of canaryseed germplasm for reaction to fusarium infection in the field with the aim of identifying sources of resistance to improve genetic resistance to fusarium in future cultivars. To better understand in greater detail the infection process of the crop to facilitate recommendations for fungicide application timing. To conduct a multi-site, multi-year fungicide trial to determine the impact of fungicides and optimize the application timing for FHB disease control. To analyze infected canaryseed samples to determine the types of toxins that result from FHB of canaryseed. To screen canaryseed lines for tolerance to herbicides.

Project Summary:

Fusarium seed infection has been noted in canary seed in past years.  In this study, we evaluated the consequences of Fusarium seed infection on canary seed yield and quality, determined the causal species involved and the impacts that infection at various growth stage of canary seed. Fusarium seed infection differed only minimally among the 55 canary seed genotypes evaluated, which may have been due to the low disease severity observed because of the relatively dry environmental conditions in the years evaluated, despite inoculation and irrigation. At BBCH 65 (full flower) and BBCH 75 (medium milk), Fusarium seed infection was greater and the seed weight lower than for infections occurring before or after these growth stages. In the field fungicide trials at five site-years, Fusarium infection was minimal and had no detectable effect on grain yield, seed weight, or DON content. Fusarium species identified on infected seed from commercial fields were: F. graminearum, F. poae, and F. avenaceum. In the Fusarium nursery at Saskatoon, which was inoculated with F. graminearum only, we also detected F. culmorum and F. sporotrichioides on harvested seed. The second general objective for this project was to identify experimental canary seed lines or accessions with increased tolerance to representative commercial products from herbicide groups 1, 2, 10 and 27. Using a range of fenoxaprop application rates (1X, 2X, 4X and 8X)