WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS
Seed-borne disease is only half the story
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cross the Prairies in the 2017 growing season, farmers saw dry weather resulting in low disease pressure, and as a result many seed tests are coming back with low pathogen presence, providing a strong foundation for the 2018 growing season. However, seed-borne disease is only part of the story. Many of the most threatening seed and seedling diseases are soil-borne, meaning that heading into the next growing season, crops may still be at risk. Fusarium spp., C. sativus, and pythium in cereals and rhizoctonia, pythium and fusarium in pulses can overwinter in the soil and pose a threat to healthy seed. To manage seedling diseases, it is important to scout your crop to know what diseases are likely to be present in future seasons, but it is also good to know which pathogens your geography favours. Soil-borne diseases can vary significantly across Prairie provinces, but no province is exempt from the threat of disease. Manitoba, with its warmer soil conditions at seeding time, can provide ideal conditions for C. sativus in cereals and rhizoctonia in pulses, while cooler conditions in Saskatchewan and Alberta are more conducive to pythium. Fusarium has traditionally been more of a threat in the east, but it is seen further west every year. In addition to soil temperatures impacting the disease spectrum, moisture levels will also impact the presence of disease. Dry conditions will foster C. sativus while pythium and rhizoctonia thrive in wet conditions. This means that regardless of geography or moisture conditions, your crop can still be impacted by seedling disease. One of the most concerning diseases for cereal growers is fusarium. Fusarium head blight (FHB) becomes an issue in
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FA R M FO R U M .CA / JANUARY 2018
2016 FUSARIUM INCIDENCE ACROSS THE PRAIRIES
THE PAS
EDMONTON
SASKATOON
CALGARY WINNIPEG
REGINA
PERCENT OF GRAIN SAMPLES CONTAINING FDK Canadian Grains Commission Harvest Sample Program
100 – 90
89 – 80
79 – 70
69 – 60
59 – 50
high moisture years reducing both yield and quality in cereal crops. The disease overwinters in soil and crop stubble, so even if you did not see FHB last year, fusarium can still impact your seedlings and emergence this year. While moist conditions at heading give rise to FHB, Fusarium spp. including Fusarium graminearum is likely to be present in a wide range of soil temperatures and moisture conditions, moving further west each year. If fusarium is present in your soil, it can impede seedling emergence, reducing the yield potential of your crop from day one. Managing both seed- and soil-borne fusarium is essential to ensure that your crop gets off to a healthy start with strong emergence and seedling vigour, as well as protecting your crop against fusarium head blight in the future.
49 – 40
39 – 30
29 – 20
19 – 10
The good news is that protecting your seed from disease, be it seed-borne or soil-borne, is a simple decision with seed treatments like Raxil® PRO for cereals and Trilex® EverGol® for pulse crops. Raxil PRO seed treatment contains three different actives for both contact and systemic activity so the plant is protected from diseases like Fusarium graminearum, and true loose smut while also ensuring stronger, faster emergence, for a healthier, higher yielding crop. Trilex EverGol seed treatment for pulse crops protects against the threats associated with early season seeding including defense against rhizoctonia, fusarium, botrytis, pythium and ascochyta. The result is healthier plants and greater plant stand to provide increased yields.