Getting One Step Closer to Sclerotinia Control Through Cultivar Resistance and Biological Applications
Priorities
Diseases
Start Date
2013
End Date
2016
Principal Investigator
Dilantha Fernando - University of Manitoba
Co-Investigators
Teresa de Kievit - University of Manitoba, Mark Belmonte - University of Manitoba
MCGA Funding
$45,000
Total Project Funding
$90,000
External Funding Partners
SaskCanola, ARDI
Report
Research Objective
- To identify key defense genes in canola that respond before, during, and after sclerotinia infection
Project Description
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a highly infective pathogen and the plant's genetic defense to it needs to be evaluated before, during, and after infection to understand how it happens. The application is that it will lead to the identification of new genes associated with plant defense against the sclerotinia pathogen directly at the site of infection, and lead to production of new resistant varieties of canola. Enhancing plant defense through innovate and cutting-edge approaches will allow this project to increase seed yield and ultimately food production and quality, which remain primary objectives of canola farmers across the country.