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.ìI think we're going to see a lot of sclerotinia,î said Harry Brook, crop specialist for Alberta Agriculture, in a recent press release.ìThe conditions are ideal again this year. I can see sclerotinia being a very nasty surprise when harvest comes this fall,î said Brook.Red Deer County's agriculture services manager agrees.ìIt's warm and humid, a lot of moisture in the soil,î said Art Preachuk.ìThe conditions are very conducive to the disease. But, if we haven't had it before, it may not be that prevalent.îHe notes that proper crop rotations (waiting until the fourth year to replant a crop) have proven an effective method of prevention of the fungus.ìBut if you've been growing canola every year, chances are right that it could whack you this year,î 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.ìOnce the symptoms of sclerotinia show in a canola field, it is already too late to take action,î said Fulton, agriculture services manager MVC.ìFoliar fungicide application is recommended in the early bloom stage, and canola within Mountain View County is in the early podding stage.îPreachuk said the canopy of the canola closes in, creating a sort of a ìmicro-cultureî underneath, making it impossible to dry out.ìIt's hot and humid, and the canopy sort of holds the moisture in. The sun and the wind doesn't get in there.îHeavy 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. ìIt can severely effect yield,î he said.ìTypically it hasn't been that big of a problem here because we don't get that hot, humid type of summer.îìIf it is hot and humid, there is potential.îPreachuk 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.ìThey should be vigilant and scouting their fields,î 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.
