The major fungal diseases affecting canola in this State are widespread and severe in some regions, but research is indicating their importance is grossly under-estimated by many growers and advisers.

The University of Western Australia (UWA) School of Agriculture and Environment research scientists, Professor Martin Barbetti and Dr Ming Pei You, are participating in a project investigating the incidence and severity of key fungal foliar diseases affecting canola right across Australia. 

This national Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)-funded research is focusing on white leaf spot, downy mildew, Alternaria and powdery mildew. 

Professor Barbetti said survey findings stemming from the research would provide all canola growers with a better insight into foliar diseases caused by these fungal pathogens. 

“These are the first and only comprehensive surveys of canola crops across Australia that accurately show the relative prevalence and severity of fungal foliar diseases,” he said.

The national research team has identified canola varieties with resistance against white leaf spot, downy mildew and powdery mildew.

“This is a big breakthrough and offers unique opportunities for these lines to be directly deployed in areas where one or more of these diseases are severe,” Prof Barbetti said.

“They can also be used in canola breeding programs to develop commercial varieties with effective fungal disease resistance.”

A separate project led by research scientist Adjunct Professor Roger Jones, of UWA and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA), has studied the threat posed by a new resistance-breaking strain of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), which is widespread in the Liverpool Plains region in the eastern States.

Adjunct Prof Roger Jones said further spread of this strain posed a threat to the canola industry nationally. 

“It overcame all the TuMV resistance genes that currently suppress TuMV spread in all Australian canola varieties tested and its potential spread to other canola-growing regions, including WA, could incur major losses nationally,” he said.

Prof Barbetti will present the latest findings from both of these projects at the GRDC Grains Research Update, Perth due to be held at Crown Perth on February 27-28.

He said he would outline the occurrence of fungal foliar disease across southern Australia, the fungal disease-resistant canola varieties that were identified in the research and the opportunities for canola breeding programs to develop commercial varieties with effective disease resistance.

“I will also highlight to growers the risks posed by the resistance-breaking strain of TuMV to the national canola industry, and the urgent need to identify a source of resistance to it for use in breeding resistant canola varieties,” he said.  

The GRDC Grains Research Update, Perth will provide information about the latest innovations and research results for all crops grown in WA and help to fine-tune growers’ management strategies for the coming season.

The event will boast five international experts and more than 50 presenters and will be complemented by three one-day regional GRDC Grains Research Update events. These are to be held in Mingenew, Kendenup and Merredin to enable growers to access a subset of the available information of particular relevance to that region.

These regional events will be held at the Mingenew Recreation Centre on February 24, the Kendenup Lodge on March 7 and the Merredin Recreation Centre on March 9.

To register or for more information, go to the Grains Industry of WA website. More information can be obtained by contacting event coordinator the Grain Industry Association of WA on 08 6262 2128 or email researchupdates@giwa.org.au.