Source: UNIV OF IDAHO submitted to NRP
IMPROVING CANOLA PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTION SYSTEMS WITH GENETIC AND AGRONOMIC ADVANCES TO INCREASE CANOLA ACREAGE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1023822
Grant No.
2020-38624-32470
Cumulative Award Amt.
$315,955.00
Proposal No.
2020-08059
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2020
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2022
Grant Year
2020
Program Code
[HW]- Supplemental and Alternative Crops
Recipient Organization
UNIV OF IDAHO
875 PERIMETER DRIVE
MOSCOW,ID 83844-9803
Performing Department
Plant Sciences Department
Non Technical Summary
Pacific Northwest (PNW) dryland agriculture is dominated by small-grain cereals. Few adapted rotational crops are available and there are increasing concerns about the long-term sustainability of monoculture cereal production. Canola yields in the PNW are the highest in the US. However, this region also produces the highest wheat yields, so convincing growers to try new crops can be difficult. This project will increase canola productivity and grower profitability by: (1) developing superior cultivars with higher yield and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses; (2) identifying and quantifying economic and environmental rotational benefits of canola in cereal rotations, and developing multi-year enterprise budgets; (3) determine effects of row spacing, seeding rate, and planting date on yield and oil content of hybrid and OP spring canola; (4) quantify yield loss due to blackleg infestation, determine the effectiveness of seed and foliar fungicides treatments as well as develop an economic thresholds for justifying fungicidal disease control, and continue investigate the epidemiology of L. maculans to aid in developing disease control strategies; and (5) provide educational extension and outreach to confer the research results to growers and industry, including the continued development of the PNW Canola Production Manual. We will provide producers with best management practices to maximize canola performance and profitability. Results from this project will encourage more growers to include canola in their cereal rotations, offering more crop diversity and greater long-term farm stability, and environmental stewardship.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
80%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2011848108150%
2121848116020%
2051848116010%
2051848102010%
2051848301010%
Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 205 - Plant Management Systems; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1848 - Canola;

Field Of Science
1160 - Pathology; 1081 - Breeding; 3010 - Economics; 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
Develop genetically adapted cultivars of canola with high yield potential and resistance or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress factors that prevail in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). The region has many different eco-environments in the region, including very dry (less than 12 inches of annual precipitation, requiring summer fallow to raise any crop), to intermediate and high rainfall (greater than 24 inches of annual precipitation, where annual cropping is common), and irrigated production. No other canola growing region in the world has such a diverse range of production environments.Qualification and quantification of canola rotational benefits. PNW growers have become accustomed to high yield wheat and high wheat returns that canola often does not achieve. The value and positive impacts canola has on wheat rotations and productivity need to be qualified and quantified to allow farmers to make informed decisions about using a systems approach, rather than making decisions on a year-to-year basis.Reduce risk of canola crop failure or loss due to abiotic stress factors such as cold, heat and drought. Although better genetics must be incorporated into new cultivars for better resistance to abiootic stress factors, there is a strong agronomic component that can impact crop productivity and survival.Reduce risk of crop loss to emerging plant diseases. New diseases in the PNW, such as blackleg can limit productivity and threaten seed production. Relatively little is known about the epidemiology of Leptosphaeria maculans and its impact on canola production in the PNW. Increased knowledge about this pathogen and disease are crucial to the continued success of canola in PNW cropping systems1: Develop and identify canola cultivars that afford the highest productivity and greatest profitability for different agronomic zones in the PNW.2. Quantify the rotational benefits of growing canola in rotations with wheat in the PNW.3. Determine the effects of row spacing and seeding rate on yield and oil content of hybrid and open pollinated (OP) spring canola.4. Determine the effect of blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) infection on canola yield, examine the effectiveness of seed and foliar fungicide treatments to control blackleg disease and investigate the epidemiology of L. maculans in the PNW region.5. Provide extension and outreach of research to educate new and experienced canola growers on best management practices to optimize profitability.
Project Methods
Objective 1: We will use a wide range of breeding methodologies to develop and test new cultivars of canola that are genetically superior and highly adapted to the PNW region. Better-adapted cultivars will return greater profit to growers, and hence increase canola acreage in the region. Our breeding methods are primarily based on hybridization between selected parents, followed by recurrent phenotypic selection and inbreeding. We will utilize mutagenesis, microsporagenesis, and intergeneric hybridization. We will also expand on existing high-throughput molecular marker-assisted selections (MAS) and quantitative trait loci to identify novel genes and genotypes, thus accelerating future cultivar development. Cultivar development will emphasize adaptation to PNW agronomic zones. Selection criteria will include high seed yield and seed oil content, improved oil and seed meal quality. We will utilize associated genomics research to aid in marker assisted selection. In addition, we will use transgenic technology to develop cold- and drought-tolerant canola varieties. Seed companies and breeding groups worldwide will be invited to submit winter and spring canola cultivars and advanced breeding lines for performance testing throughout the PNW to identify new, improved cultivars for commercial release in the varied climates and environments that exist throughout the PNW.Objective 2. We will estimate the basic economics of growing canola compared to other potential rotational crops and wheat in northern Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. We will also determine the rotation effects of wheat grown after canola by comparing productivity of wheat crops following canola to productivity of monoculture wheat production. These trials will be grown on fields with a long history of monoculture cereal grain production in a continuous cropping or fallow-based system, with few alternative crops available. Economic returns over two years of crop production from all rotation combinations (e.g., winter wheat-winter wheat, winter canola-winter wheat, winter wheat-spring wheat, winter canola-spring wheat, winter wheat-fallow-winter wheat, winter canola-fallow-winter wheat, etc.) will be calculated to compare the effects of including winter canola with other possible rotations.Objective 3: We will determine the effects of row spacing and seeding rate on yield and oil content of hybrid and OP spring canola. Two Brassica napus spring canola hybrids (HyCLASS-930 RR and InVigor-L140P LL) and two OP (Empire and Cara) cultivars with regional adaptability will be evaluated in field trials with three row spacing widths (7-inch, 14-inch and 21-inch rows), two seeding rates (350,000 and 500,000 live seed acre-1) at Genesee and Moscow, ID. Each cultivar/seeding rate combination will be planted using a double disc opener plot drill. The experimental design at each of the two locations will be a four-replicate strip-split-plot design with row spacing being assigned to strips, cultivars assigned as main-plots and seeding rates assigned as sub-plots within cultivars. Plot size will be 16 x 10 feet. Crop management will be according to the normal practices at each location, including the use of appropriate seed treatments, fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. All plots will be visually assessed days to 50% bloom, plant height after flowering, and lodging. At the appropriate stage of maturity, plots will be combine harvested. The harvested seed will be dried in heated ovens set at 110°F prior to being weighed. A subsample of seed will be taken from each plot to determine seed oil content using a nuclear magnetic resonance analyzer.Objective 4: The effect of blackleg infestation on canola yield, the effectiveness of seed and foliar fungicides on blackleg incidence, and the economic returns from fungicides will be examined in two winter canola field trials in northern Idaho. Each study will be planted at two locations in northern Idaho in areas with high blackleg incidence. In the first study, 10 winter canola cultivars with known and varying degrees of blackleg resistance will be evaluated in field trials. Each cultivar will be grown with four treatments: (1) no fungicide control, (2) fall fungicide application, (3) spring fungicide application, and (4) fall and spring fungicide application. The experimental design will be a four-replicate split-plot design where main-plots are assigned to fungicide treatments and split-plots are assigned to cultivars. In the second study, four winter canola cultivars will be grown in field trials with and without seed fungicide treatments. The experimental design will be a four-replicate split-plot design where main-plots are assigned to cultivars and split-plots are assigned to fungicide seed treatments. In both trials, blackleg leaf spot incidence will be measured at the rosette stage in the fall and prior to bolting in the spring, and stem canker severity will be assessed at maturity. Stems will be systematically selected, uprooted, transversely cut near the soil line, and evaluated for the degree of internal stem decay caused by blackleg. At maturity, plots will be harvested and a subsample of seed will be taken from each plot to determine seed oil content. Burkard spore samplers will be deployed at locations in Idaho and Latah Counties to monitor for L. maculans spore movement. Idaho County has had the highest incidence of blackleg during the past three growing seasons in northern Idaho. Samplers will be deployed by late July 2020 to coincide with early seeding of winter canola. This automated spore sampler will collect samples daily and will be operated throughout the fall and into the spring months of 2021, monitoring for both conidia and ascospores. Following DNA extraction, the presence and quantity of L. maculans and L. biglobosa will be determined using qPCR.Objective 5. Extension efforts will communicate information about the development and availability of new cultivars, along with data collected on crop rotations, optimized crop productivity, and potential disease issues that arise throughout this project. Annual grower meetings already exist in the PNW and canola production information will be included at these meetings to enhance the long-term sustainability of dryland agriculture in the region. All performance results along with variety performance, crop rotation, optimized production practices, and economic information will be available on websites and in newsletters. Enterprise budgets for these crops will be added to current sets of cost and return estimates for each state and then disseminated to industry and grower groups. We will continue to develop and add new information to the PNW Canola Production Manual, a comprehensive overview of all aspects of growing and marketing canola crops including: field selection; pre-planting management; cultivation; fertility management; seeding rates, dates, and row spacing; weed control; pest and disease screening and management, pre-harvest and harvest; soil quality; rotational economics; and storage and marketing. The manual will be available interactively on web sites at WSU and UI, and in print form when requested.

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes stakeholders involved in canola production in the dryland, rainfed areas of the inland Pacific Northwest (PNW). This includes farmers, crop commodity groups, crop consultants, and companies assoicated with agriculture in the region. Other audience members include researchers from both the public and private sectors, and those individuals or groups interested in canola production in the PNW. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two graduate students conducted research in either plant breeding/genetics, molecular genetics or plant science/plant pathology. Seven undergraduate students were trained in aspects of laboratory, greenhouse and field trials as full-time employees over the summer and part-time during the school year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?It is crucial that the knowledge generated by this project is delivered to local growers and industry so that innovative ideas can be readily adopted by the growers to increase acreage. During 2022, data was shared at a workshop (113 attendees), a virtual Cereal School (107 attendees), grower meetings (279 attendees), and numerous field days (225 attendees). In total, there were 724 direct contacts during this funding cycle. Information also was reported on the University of Idaho canola website and the PNW Canola Association website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Obj. 1: For winter canola, increased approximately 110 F1 cross combinations in the greenhouse to the F2 generation. F2 seed was planted in the greenhouse and will be used to produce F3 seed in early 2023 for fall 2023 planting in the field. Parents included cultivars and germplasm that have shown good adaptation to the Pacific Northwest. Grew F5 and F7 winter canola breeding populations in the field at two locations and evaluated them for yield performance. Selected the nine best performing F5 lines to advance in the program and planted field plots in August for evaluation in 2023. None of the F7 lines were advanced. Grew and evaluated six advanced winter canola lines at six regional locations. Three lines were retained for further testing in 2023 at five regional sites. A pre-breeder seed increase of one of the advanced lines was grown in the greenhouse during 2022, and seed of each individual plant was tested for oil quality. Seed from plants with high oil quality were seeded in a field increase in the fall of 2022. For spring canola, 90 F3 populations were grown in the field during the summer of 2022. Lines were selected and F4 seed was harvested for planting and evaluation during 2023. Eleven F6 white-flowered spring Brassica napus lines were grown and evaluated in the field at two locations. Lines were screened for flower color and oil quality in the greenhouse. Grew and evaluated four F5 and two F7 spring canola populations in regional trials at eight sites. Increased seed of four selected F5 families in the greenhouse during the 2021-2022 winter to produce F6 seed. These lines were tested for oil quality and 24 lines from each family were tested in the field to produce F7 seed. Selected lines and harvested F7 seed for planting in the spring of 2023. Selected 100 high quality lines and produced F8 seed in the field. At the University of Idaho, two PRR genes (Br1033 and Br8468) have been cloned and transformed into the regionally adapted winter canola cultivar Athena to over-express these two PRR genes. Produced F2 seed from F1 plants that contain either a transgene for stress tolerance or a transgene for improved disease resistance. In order to pyramid Br1033 and Br8468 transgenic in one transgenic line, two particular transgenic lines with highest expression of Br1033 (termed Br33-4) or Br8468 (termed Br68-5) have been crossed and F1 seeds have been collected. We have begun to verify Br33-4/Br68-5 "double" transgenic line by PCR-base molecular determination of the F2 populations. For the 2022 growing season, the University of Idaho coordinated trials across Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Winter canola trials consisting of 29 entries were completed at six locations. These include three sites in Idaho, one in Washington and two in Oregon. Spring canola variety trials consisting of 38 entries were completed at eight sites in the Inland Pacific Northwest. In addition, a spring canola variety trial was established in Montana that includes entries from the University of Idaho breeding program as well as private companies. Data from the winter and spring trials has been disseminated via the PNW Canola Association website, directly to seed companies who entered varieties into the trial, and to other interested parties. Data collected from these trials will be shared at grower meetings and field days during 2023. Five new trial sites for the 2023-2024 growing season were seeded across Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The University of Idaho hired a new canola breeder in the fall of 2022 and they will be joining the canola team in the spring of 2023. This individual will bring in new skill sets and ideas to further advance canola variety development in the PNW. Obj. 2. Spring canola rotation trials: A large long-term study was initiated in 2014 to examine spring canola, chickpea, and spring wheat in rotation with recrop winter wheat and then spring wheat. This site has already gone through two complete rotations (years 1-6) and a third cycle (years 7-9) was initiated in 2022. Yield, grain quality and economic performance between the three rotations, including gross returns and production costs of the three treatment crops and subsequent crop production were collected and data is being analyzed. Winter canola rotation trials: A second multi-year study was initiated to focus on spring wheat with and without the application of two commercially available mycorrhizal fungi seed treatments following winter canola or winter wheat to determine if previously documented yield declines in spring wheat can be reduced and or eliminated. Two studies were conducted in winter canola and winter wheat residue during 2022. The three treatments are spring wheat treated with (1) no mycorrhizal fungi check, (2) MycroGold Wheat Blend mycorrhizal fungi seed treatment and (3) MycoApply EndoMaxx endomycorrhizal fungi seed treatment. Yield, grain quality, and economic data was collected on the subsequent spring wheat crop to examine rotational values with and without mycorrhizal applications. Data is being compiled and analyzed. Obj. 3. Nothing to report. Obj. 4. Field studies were established in Genesee, Moscow, and Nezperce, ID in the fall of 2021 to examine the timing of foliar fungicide application to control blackleg in winter canola. These studies include (1) no fungicide, (2) fall fungicide only, (3) spring fungicide only, and (4) fall and spring fungicide application. The trial consists of Amanda (susceptible to blackleg) and Mercedes (moderately resistant to blackleg). Data is being compiled and will be presented at grower meeting and field days in 2023. A manuscript describing the results of this work is anticipated. Preliminary data suggests that either a fall or spring application will significantly reduce blackleg incidence and severity, while a combination of both a fall and spring treatment provided the best control. Despite reducing blackleg incidence, there was not a yield response to fungicide treatment. A second series of field trials was established to examine the efficacy of foliar fungicides to manage blackleg in winter canola. The was conducted at the same three locations mentioned above and consisted of eight treatments and four replications. Disease and agronomic measurements were collected during the summer of 2022 and are being analyzed. A second year of this study was established in the fall of 2022 for the 2022-2023 growing season. Burkard spore samplers were deployed at two winter canola fields (Genesee and Nezperce) in August 2022 and with the exception of December to February, will be in operation until June of 2023. This will be the fourth year of spore trap operation at these sites. Data is still being compiled for the 2022 growing season and efforts are underway to recruit a graduate student to compile and analyze data to begin developing a model to predict spore release. Obj. 5. Four large-scale variety trials were conducted in Washington during 2022. These include two winter canola trials in Brewster and Almira and two spring canola trials in Davenport and Cloverland. Each site included five to six commercial varieties, each replicated three to four times. Individual plots ranged between 0.25 to nearly 0.5 acres each. Agronomic performance and yield data were collected and will be shared in winter schools and field days in 2023. Field day were held at multiple venues across Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Topics relevant to canola production included variety performance, crop establishment, disease and insect management, weed management, fertility, harvest, and general research updates. Approximately 225 stakeholders participated in these field days. Significant progress is being made on the PNW Canola Production Guide, although completion has been delayed by retirements and departures of personnel. We currently anticipate completing the guide in 2023.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Esser, A.D. and D.P. Appel. 2022. The WSU Wilke Research and Extension Farm Long-Term Rotation Summary. P. 29. In: 2022 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Washington State University Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 22-1.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Esser, A.D. and D.P. Appel. 2022. WSU Wilke Research and Extension Farm production and economic performance 2021. Washington State University Extension. Technical Bulletin. TB76E.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Chen, C. Canola variety trial at MSU-EARC. 2022. In 2022 Agricultural Research Update. Regional Report No.28, December 2022. NDSU Williston Research Extension Center and MSU Eastern Agricultural Research Center.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Madsen, I.J., and Burke, I. 2022. Washington Oilseed Cropping System Extension and Outreach. P. 38. In: 2022 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Washington State University Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 22-1.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Ford, J., and Madsen, I.J. 2022. Winter Survival Observations from Almira Variety Trial. P. 45. In: 2022 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. Washington State University Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Tech Report 22-1.


Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes stakeholders involved in canola production in the dryland, rainfed areas of the inland Pacific Northwest (PNW). This includes farmers, crop commodity groups, crop consultants, and companies assoicated with agriculture in the region. Other audience members include researchers from both the public and private sectors, and those individuals or groups interested in canola production in the PNW. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two graduate students conducted reserach in plant breeding/genetics, molecular genetics and plant pathology. Eight undergraduate students were trained in aspects of laboratory, greenhouse and field trials as full-time employees over the summer and part-time during the school year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?It is crucial that the knowledge generated by this project is delivered to local growers and industry so that innovative ideas can be readily adopted by the growers to increase acreage. Since the start of the project information on canola production has been presented at a workshop (113 attendees), a virtual Cereal School (107) and at several grower meetings (279). Information on variety trials was reported on the University of Idaho canola website and the PNW Canola Association website. Canola was featured in numerous field day talks across the Pacific Northwest during the summer of 2022. Participant numbers from thse events are still being collected. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to conduct research and extension trials as outlined in the proposal and addressing the four objectives discussed in this report.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Obj. 1: Approximately 120 F1 crosses of winter canola were generated in 2021 and F2 seed is currently being produced in the greenhouse. Eight F5 lines of winter canola are being grown in yield trials at two locations and 20 single plant selections from each line are being grown for seed increase. Differing winter survival was observed among these F5 lines. One advanced winter canola family was screened for herbicide resistance to Group 2 herbicides in the greenhouse. For spring canola, 55 F2 lines were grown in the greenhouse during the winter of 2021-22 and the resulting F3 seed was planted into field trials in May 2022 to advance the lines to the F4 generation. Five F4 lines that were selected in 2021 have been advanced to the F5 generation in the greenhouse with quality testing performed on the F5 and F6 seed. F6 seed has been planted in the field to increase seed. Two F6 lines that were selected in 2021 have been advanced to the F7 generation in the greenhouse with 160 plants grown from each line. F7 seed was evaluated for glucosinolate content, and F8 seed from each greenhouse-grown plant was evaluated for oil quality. F8 seed of selected plants from both lines have been planted in the field to produce pre-breeder seed. These lines are being evaluated at F7s in regional yield trials. Quality analyses were completed on 11 white-flowered F6 lines that were selected in 2021. Those lines with canola quality oil have been progeny tested in the greenhouse for flower color to produce non-segregating, white-flowered populations. Yields trials with the white flower lines have been planted at two sites, and a seed increase trial has been planted at one site to produce more seed for further yield testing. Two advanced winter canola lines are undergoing a second year of regional testing at six sites, and four selections from each line are being compared in yield trials at two sites. An additional advanced line is being tested in regional trials for the first time. Two F7 winter canola lines are also being tested in the regional trials for the first time, for a total of five UI winter canola lines in regional testing. Two F7 and five F5 spring canola lines are being evaluated in regional yield trials at eight sites. Seed of the five best lines (one F7 and four F5 lines) were also supplied to Dr. Chen at Montana State University for yield testing in Montana. More than 10 different transgenic lines have been generated in the winter canola cultivar Athena. Two lines which express Br1033 or Br8468 transgene at the highest level have been characterized and will be advanced to F2 homozygous population and used for the initial pathogen assay in the greenhouse. In addition, we have begun establishing the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for introducing Br1033 and Br8468 into the spring canola cultivars Clearwater and Empire. For the 2022 growing season, the University of Idaho coordinated trials across Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Winter canola trials consist of 28 entries being grown at six locations. These include three sites in Idaho, one in Washington and two in Oregon. The spring canola trials consist of 38 entries that have been planted at eight sites in the Inland Pacific Northwest. In addition, a spring canola variety trial was established in Montana that includes entries from the University of Idaho breeding program as well as private companies. Data collected from these trials during the upcoming field season will include flowering date, mature plant height, lodging, seed yield, seed oil content, and protein content. Obj. 2. Spring canola rotation trials: A large long-term study was initiated in 2014 to examine spring canola, chickpea, and spring wheat in rotation with recrop winter wheat and then spring wheat. This site has already gone through two complete rotations (years 1-6) and a third one (years 7-9) has been initiated. We have a location with Year 7 (treatment crops) planted and a location with Year 8 planted winter wheat and subsequent crop production is being assessed. Data collection this summer will include yield, grain quality and economic performance between the three rotations, including gross returns and production costs of the three treatment crops and subsequent crop production. Winter canola rotation trials: A second multi-year study was initiated to focus on spring wheat with and without the application of two commercially available mycorrhizal fungi seed treatments following winter canola or winter wheat to determine if previously documented yield declines in spring wheat can be reduced and or eliminated. Two studies were established in winter canola and winter wheat residue in April 2022. The three treatments are spring wheat treated with (1) no mycorrhizal fungi check, (2) MycroGold Wheat Blend mycorrhizal fungi seed treatment and (3) MycoApply EndoMaxx endomycorrhizal fungi seed treatment. Yield and economic performance will be collected on the treatment crops (winter canola and winter wheat). Yield, grain quality, and economic data will be collected on the subsequent spring wheat crop to examine rotational values with and without mycorrhizal applications. Obj. 3. Two separate field trials were established at three locations in northern Idaho (Genesee, Moscow, Nezperce). The first of these studies is intended to examine the timing of foliar fungicide application to control blackleg in winter canola. This is the third and projected to be the last year for this trial. These studies were established in late summer of 2021 and include (1) no fungicide, (2) fall fungicide only, (3) spring fungicide only, and (4) fall and spring fungicide application. The trial consists of Amanda, which is susceptible to blackleg and Mercedes, which is moderately resistant to blackleg. During the coming growing season, this trial will be assessed for flowering date, plant height, seed yield, seed oil content and protein content. The plots will be monitored and assessed for blackleg incidence and severity. Trials were established for a second study at the same three locations mentioned above to examine the efficacy of different foliar fungicides to manage blackleg in winter canola. The trial consists of eight treatments and four replications. Winter canola cultivar Amanda was used in all of the studies and the seed was treated with Helix Vibrance. Disease assessment and agronomic measurements will be collected as described for the previous study. Burkard spore samplers were deployed at two winter canola fields (Genesee and Nezperce) in September of 2021 and were in operation until December of 2021. The traps were redeployed in March of 2022 as snow melted and temperatures began to warm. Tapes collected from these traps have been sectioned into daily segments and are awaiting microscopic examination as well as processing using qPCR to determine the quantity of L. maculans present. Obj. 4. Five large-scale variety trials were established in Washington during the fall of 2021 and spring of 2022. These include two winter canola trials and three spring canola trials. Data has been collected on winter survival for the winter canola trials. Data collection including yield and postharvest quality will be measured throughout 2022. A number of educational events occurred during the winter months in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. These included grower meetings, workshops, and other extension education programs. Topics relevant to canola production included crop establishment, disease and insect management, weed management, fertility, harvest, and general research updates. Approximately 576 stakeholders participated in these events. Canola was featured in a number of field days across the region during the late spring and early summer of 2022. Significant progress is being made on the PNW Canola Production Guide. We anticipate completion of a final draft by the fall of 2022 and publication of the guide within the next year.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Davis, J.B., Job, A., and Brown, J. 2022. Effect of row spacing and seeding rate on spring canola yield in northern Idaho. In: 2022 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress (pp. 43-45). Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Technical Report UI-2022-1.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Davis, J.B., Job, A., and Kaya, J. 2022. Effect of plant growth regulator (PGR) treatments on early-seeded winter canola. In: 2022 Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress (pp. 39-40). Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Technical Report UI-2022-1.
  • Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2022 Citation: Esser, A.D. and D.P. Appel. 2022. WSU Wilke Research and Extension Farm production and economic performance 2021. Washington State University Extension. Technical Bulletin.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Madsen, I.J., and Neely, C. 2022. Management Considerations and Potential for Dual-Purpose Canola Forage in the Pacific Northwest. WSU Extension Guide.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Madsen, I.J., Pan, W.L., Davis, Maaz, T.M., and Tao. 2022. Spring Canola Nutrient Management for the Inland Pacific Northwest. WSU Extension Guide.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: 2021 Regional Canola Variety Trial-Sidney, MT Site. In Regional Research Update. Edited by C. Chen and J. Bergman, NDSU-WREC and MSU-EARC.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: 2021 Statewide Canola Variety Trial Sidney, MT Site. In Regional Research Update. Edited by C. Chen and J. Bergman, NDSU-WREC and MSU-EARC.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Janowski, K. 2021. Understanding the Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of Leptosphaeria maculans, and Exploring Chemical Control Strategies to Manage Blackleg of Winter Canola (Brassica napus) in Northern Idaho. MS Thesis, University of Idaho.