2006-06-25
Author: AM 1250/Mix 96 News
Manitoba Agriculture is keeping tabs on a couple of diseases which have appeared in recent days.  Apothecia mushrooms have been found in several fields around the province.  Plant pathologist David Kaminski says that means canola growers need to begin thinking about sclerotinia.  He stresses the crop is only susceptible when the petals begin to fall, and that starts at the 30 per cent bloom stage.  Also, a few cases of oat crown rust have been reported.  Kaminski notes the appearance of the disease is earlier than average.  He adds the department is monitoring the situation because the majority of varieties currently grown in Manitoba are susceptible to the mix of races present.  Kaminski notes these first cases tell us we should be scouting our oat fields, with an eye out for symptoms of crown rust.