MINUTES OF THE 25th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

WESTERN COMMITTEE ON PLANT DISEASE

Temple Greens Mineral Spa Resort Hotel, Moose jaw, Saskatchewan

October 16, 2000

 

In attendance:                                                                                                              

Executive:            Kelly Turkington (Vice-Chair)

Khalid Rashid (Secretary/Treasurer)

Gayle Jesperson (Guidelines Editor)                              

 

Members:             Khalil Al-Mughrabi, Mardi Desjardins, Myriam Fernandez, Dilantha Fernando, Bruce Gossen, Lorraine Harrison, Jim Holley,, David Kaminski, Ron Knox, Randy Kutcher, Ralph Lange, Debbie McLaren, Robin Morrall, Penny Pearse, Tracy Shinners-Cornelley,

 

Guests:    Sabine Banniza, Jim Bessel, Gary Byrtus, Sandy cook, Allan Eadie, David Feindel, David Forster, Murray Hartman, Rob Klewchuk, Gordon Knight, Myron Kopec, Mark Kuchuran, Zane Lewchuk, Kent McKay, Lori McKay, Rod McLeod, Ray McVicar, Tim Nerbas, Jim Nordstrom, David Rourke, Rae Trimble,  Gary Turnbull.

 

Advisors:              Pierre Beauchamp, Najib Malik, and Yu Liu (PMRA, Ottawa), Jim Mckenzie (AAFC/ECORC, Ottawa).

 

1.0    Welcome and Introductions: Vice-Chairman Kelly Turkington presented the introductory remarks, and announced that an unfortunate riding accident have prevented the Chairman Peter Burgoyne from attending and chairing the meetings.  A brief introductions of participants were made around the table.

 

2.0    Adoption of the agenda                      McLaren/Lange                         Carried

 

3.0    Minutes of the 22nd Annual meeting   (K. Rashid)

Motion to accept minutes            Rashid/Harrison                        Carried

 

4.0    Business arising from the minutes

  4.1  Treasurer’s Report (K. Rashid)- Total income for the past year was $135.00.  Total expenses were $29.53.  Balance in WCPD main account as of October 15th , 2000 is $2169.05.  Balance in the Slides account as of February 29,2000 is $2230.61 (see Report, Slide Editor).

Motion to accept report                Rashid/Kutcher                         Carried

 

  4.2  Disposition of 1998 Resolutions :   NONE

 

  4.3  Correspondence  (Turkington, Rashid) - None received.

 

5.0    Appointments

  5.1  Resolution Committee - B. Gossen, and D. Kaminski.

Morrall/Pearse                    Carried

  5.2  Nominations Committee -  R. McLeod, and R. Kutcher.

Rashid/Lange                            Carried

 

6.0    Report from Editors

  6.1  Guideline Editor’s Report.  Report was presented by G. Jesperson - The guidelines were updated in 1999, 21 diskette copies were sold at $10.00per copy (K. Rashid).  The Guidelines were prepared in WP 8 format and converted to PDF files with Adobe Acrobat, and were distributed in PDF format.  The deadline for submitting revisions is Nov. 15, 2000, and “digital” format for revisions will be accepted.  Gayle informed the Committee that she would step down as the Editor since she took on the responsibility of Membership Secretary with the Canadian Phytopathological Society.

Motion to accept the Editor’s report   Jesperson/Holley                   Carried

 

  6.2  Slide Set Editor’s Report - Report was received from Leslie MacDonald and  read by G. Jesperson.  Sales of one set each of Berry, Greenhouse/ Vegetables, and Shade tree/Shelterbelt were reported.  The balance in the slide account is $2230.61 as of February 29, 2000 (Canada Trust). Signing Authority with Leslie MacDonald, Janice Elmhirst, and Dave Ormrod.

Motion to accept report                Jesperson/McLaren                Carried

 

  6.3  Website Editor’s Report  - Report received from P. Kharbanda and was read by R. Lange. The WCPD home page is being maintained on the Alberta Research Council Vegreville server web site at no cost: “http://vegwww.arc.ab.ca/wcpd/”.   The WCPD Web Page contains information on Operational Guidelines, Committee members, slide sets, and notices of meetings and agendas.  Links have been established to PMRA and CFIA.

Motion to accept report                Lange/Holley                              Carried

 

7.0    Status of CPS Publications:

  7.1  Diseases of Field Crops in Canada.  No report, Work underway on the new edition (contact Dr. Karen Bailey, AAFC, Saskatoon).

  7.2  Diseases and Pests of Vegetable Crops in Canada.  No Report.

  7.3  Canadian Plant Disease Survey.  This will be published electronically as in previous years.  50% increase in number of reports in 1999. Deadlines for receiving 1st draft of articles is November 20, 2000.   For further information, contact Prof. Morrall at Tel:306-966-4410 or at: <Morrall@abyss.usask.ca>.

 

8.0    Reports from the Pesticide Industry

 

  8.1  Bayer  (David Feindel).

  ­        Folicur: Emergency registration in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan for Fusarium head blight.

 

  8.2  Dow AgroSciences:  (Gary Turnbull).

                     New applications for new fungicides in the process.

 

  8.3  Gustafson  (R. McLeod).

  ­        Raxil F1: Gustafson received registration on wheat and barley for the control of smuts, seed rot and seedling blight (. C. sativus, and Fusarium), leaf stripe, and for suppression of common root rot.

  ­        Vitavax rs:  This fungicide has been approved for canola and mustard for control of seed rot, seedling blight, and sed borne blackleg.

 

  8.4  Novartis  (Myron Kopec).

  -       Dividend XL RTA: New registration as seed treatment in wheat for the control of soil borne Fusarium, Fusarium crown and root rot ( Label lists 12 diseases on wheat).

  -       Helix: Seed treatment for the control of flea beetles, seed and soil-borne diseases in canola and mustard.  Submission for Registration is on track.

  8.5  Zeneca  (David Forster ).

  -       Quadris:  Registration for the control of Sclerotinia, Alternaria, and blackleg in canola.  Work continues to add more crops to the label.


9.0    Reports from Government Agencies

 

  9.1  Pest Management Regulatory Agency ( P. Beauchamp).  Report presented on fungicides update in 2000.  The highlights are the following:

 

           Azoxystrobin: Five end-use products Abound (80WG and Flowable) Quadris (80WG Flowable )and Heritage (50WG) were registered in May 2000 for use on canola (Quadris for control of blackleg, black spot and Sclerotinia stem rot), grapes (Abound for control of black rot, downy mildew and powdery mildew), and Turf (Heritage for control of Pythium, brown patch, Fusarium patch, pink and gray snow mould).

 

           Chlorothalonil:   The main Bravo label and supplementals continue to be registered through to end of 2000 and most likely for 2001.  Document preparation (PRDD) to address acceptability under TSMP is on hold due to workload.  In the mean time PMRA staff are gaining more experience in handling TSMP-affected actives. Requests for amendments which involve use expansion are not being accepted until the document is completed.

 

           Crown: Seed treatment registered for lentils is also reviewed for Ascochyta on chickpeas (minor use).

 

           Cymoxanil: Curzate 60DFwas registered in Feb. 2000 to control late blight on potatoes.

 

           Emergency registration: 14 emergency registrations related mostly to unusual weather conditions.

 

           Fenbuconazole: The URMUR for Indar to control diseases of stone fruit is under review.  Contact Rohm and Haas for details.

 

           Fludioxonil: Maxim potato seed treatment submission and review being finalised.  Other uses are under review, however, only registered use at this time is corn seed. Contact Novartis for time lines.

 

           Hexaconazole: Proseed seed treatment for smuts and bunt of cereals was fully registered in September.  Decision Document 2000-14 addresses comments received on the earlier PRDD.  Contact Zeneca for Timing and availability of product.

 

           Krezoxim-methyl: Sovran Fungicide was registered in December 1999 for use on apples to control scab and powdery mildew.

 

           Purogene: The re4gistration of Purogene (Chlorine dioxide) for the control of potato tuber rot in storage has been extended until September 2001.

 

           Magnesium phosphide: Three end-use products were registered in Canada, Degesh Fumi-cell and Fumi-Strip in March 2000 and Degesh magtoxin Granules, Degesh Magtoxin Prepac Spot Fumigant in September 2000.

          

           Tebuconazole: We continue to work with Bayer on meeting data requirements of a regular registration submission for Folicur on wheat.  Contact Bayer for more details.  Folicur received short-term Emergence use registration for Fusarium head blight in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan this year.

 

           Triticonazole:   Charter seed treatment for smuts and bunt of cereals was granted Temporary registration in April, (Regulatory Note 2000-08).  Contact Aventis for timing and availability of product.

           Microbial Products:  Trichoderma harzianum (Bio Works)and Pseudozyma flocculosa (Plant Products) are under review.  Contact companies for details.                                                                                                                     

 

           Streptomyces griseoviridis: Mycostop (Streptomyces griseoviridis) for soilborne pathogens in the greenhouse was granted Temporary Registration in March (Regulatory Note 2000-04). Contact plant products for timing and availability of product.

 

  9.2  Easter Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre (ECORC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Dr. Jim McKenzie from AAFC/ECORC presented an overview of the operations and services of the Centre .  One of the major activities of the Centre is to provide assistance to Pathologists and Entomologists in identifying microbial pathogens and insect pests of significant importance in Canada.  The Centre is currently offering free identification for five samples from each Province submitted by Provincial staff.

 

10.0            Disease situation reports and guidelines updates.  Reports on disease situations of the various crops and the proposed revisions to the Guidelines for the control of plant diseases in Western Canada were circulated and discussed (reports available on request).  Highlights were as follows:

 

  10.1          Cereals  (K. Turkington).  Barley leaf diseases in central Alberta were more common in 2000 than in 1999. Disease were low in southern Alberta.  In the Peace region, Fusarium head blight was observed in a few fields.  In Saskatchewan, cereal leaf diseases were higher in 2000 than in previous years. Fusarium head blight was present at higher levels in eastern and northern areas but at very low levels in the rest of the province.  Reports were presented on white head symptoms and poor grain quality in durum and winter wheat.  Ergot was less severe in 2000 than last year.  In Manitoba, FHB was widespread on wheat and barley with a FHB Index of 8.5% in spring wheat, 1.7% in winter wheat, and 5.5% in barley. Estimated losses from FHB in Manitoba 2000 are at $30-40M.  Traces of Smuts were found in 26-61% of the fields of cereal crops. BYDV was WSMV were generally light.

 

  10.2          Forages Legumes  (L. Harrison).  Disease levels were low in Alberta. Most alfalfa fields in the Peace Region had common leaf spot and black stems. In Manitoba, black stem and common leaf spot were the two major diseases of alfalfa.  In Saskatchewan, blossom blight was common early in the season but declined thereafter.

 

  10.3          Grasses  (B. Gossen).  Severe head smut was reported in one field of slender wheatgrass in Manitoba.  In Alberta, the first report of a severe outbreak of stem smut in fields of intermediate wheatgrass.  In Saskatchewan, severe infestation with head smut was reported in several fields of slender wheatgrass.  In British Columbia, Cock’s-foot mottle virus was a noticeable disease in orchardgrass.

 

  10.4          Greenhouse Crops (L. MacDonald, presented by G. Jesperson). In B.C., bacterial canker on tomato was reported.  Downy mildew was common in floriculture crops. Root rot diseases caused by Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, and Pythium were commonly diagnosed.

 

  10.5          Mushrooms  (J. Menzies presented by K. Turkington).  The two most important diseases are: Green mould (Trichoderma harzianum), dry bubble (Verticillium fungicola).  Dry bubble remains a potential loss due to the lack of effective fungicides.

  10.6          Oilseeds   (R. Kutcher).   Sclerotinia stem rot and blackleg remain the most common diseases in Alberta with severity levels that vary from one region to another. Fusarium wilt was reported from the Peace region and other areas in Alberta. Root rot was common in the Peace region.  In Saskatchewan, Sclerotinia stem rot and black leg were relatively less severe in 2000 than in 1999; while Alternaria pod spot and aster yellows were more severe in 2000 than in 1999.  In Manitoba, Sclerotinia stem rot, blackleg and Alternaria pod rot were the most prevalent diseases of canola. Aster yellows and Alternaria were commonly observed in Manitoba.  On flax, pasmo was the most prevalent disease in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Fusarium wilt and powdery mildew were commonly observed at low severity, and aster yellows was exceptionally high similar to the 1999 situation.  Sclerotinia infected flax stems were observed for the second year but only in a few fields at very low level. Sclerotinia wilt/head rot, rust, and Verticillium wilt were prevalent on sunflower.

 

  10.7          Ornamentals   No Report.

 

  10.8          Trees and Shelterbelts   (R. Lange). No Dutch elm disease (DED) in Alberta in 2000; while Dothiorella wilt remains a problem.  In Manitoba, DED is still a problem and is well managed by the local authorities (5204 diagnosis in 2000). In Saskatchewan, the DED has advanced to new areas.  No reports of DED in BC.  

 

  10.9          Potato   (J. Holley).  In Alberta, late blight was moderate to low; while bacterial ring rot was severe,.  In Manitoba, average to above average infections of late blight were reported from central region, and pink rot had affected stored potatoes at a few locations.  In Saskatchewan, significant levels of blackleg, early blight, and Rhizoctonia damage were observed in some fields.  In BC, late blight was low to moderate, virus transmitting insects were at high levels, and high levels of powdery scab, canker and black scurf were seen in isolated fields.  Reports from New Brunswick indicate that late blight and pink rot were unusually high.  Average year for potato diseases was reported from Prince Edward Island.

 

  10.10       Special crops (D. McLaren). In Manitoba, Mycosphaerella blight Fusarium wilt, and sclerotinia stem rot were the most prevalent diseases on field pea.  Sclerotinia blight, powdery mildew, and Mycosphaerella blight were common on field pea in Saskatchewan and Alberta.  Rhizoctonia and Fusarium root rot, bacterial blights, and anthracnose were the most severe diseases of field beans in Manitoba.  Ascochyta blight was the most prevalent on lentils and chickpeas in Saskatchewan, 25% of chickpeas acreage was lost to Ascochyta blight.  Some concern was raised about the association between hail damage and the severity of Ascochyta blight, and about the shortage of supply of fungicides for control.  Reports presented indicating low levels of downy mildew in buckwheat, and aster yellows in buckwheat, caraway, coriander and Echinacea.

 

  10.11       Fruits   (P. Sholberg, presented by G. Jesperson).  Plum Pox Virus is of a concern to BC growers after confirmation of the disease in Ontario.  A first report of the Blueberry Scorch Virus in BC.

 

  10.12       Vegetables   (K. F. Chang, presented by J. Holley).  In BC, the most common diseases are; fungal blights of carrot, parsnip and celery. Of minor importance are Septoria blight of celery, Ramularia blight of parsnip, and bacterial canker and verticillium wilt of tomatoes. In Alberta, aster yellows of carrots, damping-off of cucumber, wirestems of cole crops, anthracnose and angular leaf spots of cucumber were the most severe diseases.  In Saskatchewan, the following diseases were reported: Late blight of tomatoes, sclerotinia on garden pepper and field lettuce, and aster yellows in celery and carrot, and Botrytis on squash.  In Manitoba, except for the late blight of tomatoes, all vegetable diseases were normal for an average year.

 

  10.13       Interiorscapes    No Report.

 

11.0            Special Topics

 

  11.1          Overview of the CPS meeting in Victoria.   (Khalid Rashid).  A report was presented outlining the highlights of the scientific program of the CPS meetings, the forest pathology field trip, and the main items of discussion in the Annual General Meeting of the Society including the Strategic plan for the next five years.

 

  11.2          Discussion regarding the Guidelines Editor Status.  Gale Jesperson, present Editor, will step down to take the responsibility of Membership Secretary of the CPS. The Executive of the WCPD expressed the great appreciation for the excellent work done by Gayle in editing the Guidelines over the last 15 years.  An enthusiastic round of applause echoed the members appreciation and thanks for Gayle.  At this time, Tracy Shinners-Cornelley and Mardi Desjardins agreed to gradually take over the responsibility of Editors.

 

  11.3          Discussion regarding the WCPD Web page.  The discussion centred on what the WCPD should and should not present on the web page for public use.  A motion was presented.

                     The decision will be to each Chapter Chair/Alternate to submit a summary of the disease situation for the crops in each chapter to be posted on the web page of the WCPD.

Moved                                                                                                            Lange/Holley                Carried

 

                     The participants also agreed to form a Committee to consult with Authorities in the western Provinces and Industry, and assess the negatives and positives of posting the Guidelines on the Web. The Chairman will form this committee to represent provincial plant pathologists and the various interest groups in the WCPD.

Moved                                                                                                            Bruce/Lange                Carried

 

The guidelines -Web Committee will include:

Provincial representatives:

Manitoba: Gary Platford/Tracy Shinners-Cornelley

Saskatchewan: Penny pearse

Alberta: Lorraine Harrison/Ieuan Evans

British Columbia: Gayle Jesperson

Federal Representatives:

K. Y. Rashid

K. Turkington

 

  11.4          Update from North Dakota.  (Kent McKay, NDSU Extension Service).

                     Kent presented an interesting overview of the NDSU small grain disease forecasting system for leaf spots and Fusarium head blight with special reference to the fungicide applications for economical disease control for durum wheat.  Kent also presented a summary of the cereal disease situation for North Dakota, the Sclerotinia in canola, and the Ascochyta in chickpeas.

 

  11.5          Other Pathology issues in 2000.

 

 

­­14.0            Report of the Nomination Committee

Nominations listed below for the year 2000-2001:

Executive committee

Chair                                                  Kelly Turkington

Vice-Chair                                       Khalid Rashid

Secretary/Treasurer                   Ralph Lange

Guidelines Editor                         Mardi Desjardins/Tracy Shinners-Cornelley

Slide Set Editor                            Leslie MacDonald

Website Editor                              Prem Kharbanda

 

Chapter chairs/Alternates

Cereals                                             Tekauz / Turkington

Forage legumes                           Hwang / Harrison

Grasses                                           Gossen / Platford ?

Greenhouse                                   MacDonald / Vippen Joshi

Mushrooms                                     Menzies / Rinker  

Oilseeds                                          Kutcher / Rashid

Ornamentals                                   Elmhirst / Vippen Joshi, Sneh Mathur

Trees                                                 Lange / Janet Feddes-Calpas

Potatoes                                          Holley / Bains

Special crops                                McLaren / Pearse

Fruits                                                  Sholberg / Rahe

Vegetables                                     Chang / Evans

Interiorscapes                               Elizabeth Hudgins / Desjardins ?

 

(italics indicate new nominees)

 

           Moved to accept the nominations and the appointments of the executive committee and the Chapter Chairs/Alternates as presented by the Nomination Committee          Kutcher/Holley               Carried

 

15.0            Report of the Resolutions Committee

 

           The following resolution was put forward by the Resolution Committee:

 

           Whereas the Local Arrangement Committee of the WFPM has organized an interesting and informative scientific program for the meetings, and whereas the venue for the meetings combined tunnelling, water sports and luxurious accommodations, which was unexpected in the middle of the Prairies; Therefore: Be it resolved that the Western Committee on Plant Disease thank the Local Arrangement Committee for organizing a very successful meeting.

Gossen/Kaminski                              Carried

 

16.0            2000 Meeting .  WCPD will support the plans to have the 2001 meetings Alberta.   Dates in October, 2000 to be determined by the Western Forum and the local organizers (probably Oct 14-16).

 

17.0              Adjournment.   Meeting adjourned at 4:30pm on a motion by B. Gossen.

 

Minutes recorded by

Khalid Rashid

Report from the Western Committee on Plant Disease to the Western Forum Meeting, October 17, 2000

 

The 25th annual meeting of the Western Committee on Plant Disease was held in the city of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.   Normally Peter Burgoyne, current chair, would be presenting this report to you.  However, on Tuesday, October 10, 2000 Peter indicated that he was unable to attend the Western Committee on Plant Disease and the Western Forum meetings this month.  Peter was recently involved in a trail riding accident in which he was bucked from a horse. The flip into the air & subsequent fall to earth resulted in a collapsed lung. He is recovering quite well, but finds sitting in a car for long periods still painful. He is also restricted from flying for 1 month due to cabin pressurisation. Peter indicates that he now possesses a new perspective on the sport of trail riding and the horse!  Fortunately, the vice Chair for the Western Committee on Plant Disease stepped in to cover for Peter, with the meeting on Monday October 16 getting off to a smoking start.  The vice Chair managed to start an overhead projector on fire, but as a result of quick reflexes and the prompting of meeting participants he extinguished the fire before significant damage was done.

 

Plant pathologists from all four western provinces attended and represented areas related to agricultural research and extension, and product development and sales.  Participants from eastern Canada attended as well. In total, 43 participated in this year’s annual meeting.  Of special note this year was the participation of two individuals from North Dakota, Kent McKay, Area Agronomy Specialist, North Central Research Extension Center and Lori McKay, Northern Canola Growers, Bismark, ND.

 

Representatives from federal agencies were Jim McKenzie, AAFC Ottawa, who briefly spoke of the operations and services of the National Fungal Identification Center and Pierre Beauchamp of the PMRA who spoke of the current regulatory status of numerous fungicides, both new and old to the registration system. Pierre provided an update on approximately 15 fungicides that were making their way through the registration system.

 

Industry updates were given by several representatives of the pesticide industry.

 

This was Gayle Jesperson’s last year as the editor of the WCPD publication, Guidelines for the Control of Plant Diseases in Western Canada. The WCPD thanked Gayle for her dedicated service to the WCPD regarding yearly chapter and guideline revisions.  The 1999 guidelines were available in Adobe PDF format for the first year.

 

The regular business of the WCPD progressed smoothly with reports provided from various editors and chapter chairs involving CPS publications, disease situation reports, research status updates, and WCPD Guideline revisions. Discussion typically ensued after each presentation. 

 

An adhoc committee was formed to prepare for the posting of the WCPD guidelines on the Internet.  Areas of concern will be the development of an appropriate disclaimer, provincial consent to the posting of the guidelines, and consultation with the WCCP regarding Internet posting of their guidelines.

 

Kent McKay, Area Agronomy Specialist, North Central Research Extension Center provided participants with an interesting overview of the NDSU small grain disease forecasting system for leaf spots and fusarium head blight.  Kent led us through a typical example for fusarium head blight with a subsequent overview of fungicide application and the economics of control for durum wheat.  Kent also briefly discussed the overall cereal disease situation for North Dakota and also briefly talked about sclerotinia in canola and ascochyta in chickpeas.  Kent’s presentation was enjoyed by attendees to the WCPD as evidenced by the numerous questions following his presentation.

 

The nominations committee vigorously arranged for volunteers to become responsible in the New Year for the Guidelines editor and vice chair. Chapter Chairs and alternates for the guidelines will likely remain unchanged, although the nominations committee will check with several individuals who were unable to attend to ensure that they want to remain as Chapter Chairs and alternates.  The executive of the WCPD changed for the year 2001; Kelly Turkington (AAFC Lacombe) chair, Khalid Rashid (AAFC Morden) as vice Chair, and Ralph Lange (ARC Vegreville) as Secretary / Treasurer as elected in 2000.

 

The Resolutions Committee put forth a resolution thanking the local arrangements committee for their effort on the 2000 meeting.

 

The meeting was concluded with discussion as to the location of next years meeting, Edmonton, with October dates, 2001, to be set by the Western Forum.

 

On behalf of the Western Committee on Plant Disease and Peter Burgoyne (Chair)