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Several strains of bacteria that are normally associated with plant
roots and leaves can help in the control of diseases of plants. When
applied to canola, these bacteria control Sclerotinia and there is the
promise that they could also control blackleg disease. There are direct
effects of the bacteria on the disease-causing fungi, but in addition,
the bacteria cause the canola plant to mobilize its own defenses against
attack. This mobilization of plant defenses could also work against
insects that attack the canola plant.
This project will
examine how major insect pests that attack canola respond to the
bacterial treatments. We will examine a range of insect pests,
including caterpillars and sucking insects, to determine whether
bacterial treatments can protect canola against insects that attack the
plant in different ways. If we identify insect-controlling effects of
the bacterial treatments against disease, the value of these treatments
will be enormously enhanced, as one or two treatments could protect
canola against insects and diseases throughout much of the growing
season.
Dr.
W.G.D. Fernando, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba is
a co-applicant of this project.
Partner funding is provided by the
Manitoba Canola Growers Association, the Saskatchewan Canola Development
Commission and the Alberta Canola Producers Commission through the
Canola Agronomic Research Program.
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