MINUTES OF THE 24th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

WESTERN COMMITTEE ON PLANT DISEASE

Penticton Inn, Penticton, British Columbia

October 18, 1999

 

In attendance:                                                                                            

 

Executive:          Peter Burgoyne (Chair)

Kelly Turkington (Vice-Chair)

Khalid Rashid (Secretary/Treasurer)

Gayle Jesperson (Guidelines Editor)

 

Members:            Kan-Fa Chang, Bruce Gossen, Lorraine Harrison, Jim Holley, Shean-Fang Hwang, Ralph Lange, David Kaminski, Debbie McLaren, Gary Platford, Peter Sholberg, Andy Tekauz, Allen Xue

 

Guests:    Jon Bell, Don Bertora, Jim Bessel, Leighton Blashko, Peter Burnett, Gary Byrtus, Al Eadie, Mary-Margaret Gaye, Don Harder, Elizabeth Hudgins , Carrie Hutten, Vippen Joshi, Randy Kutcher, Rod McLeod, Ilze Rupners, Penny Pearse, Gary Turnbull, Ed Vandenberg, David Wall.

 

Advisors: Pierre Beauchamp (PMRA, Ottawa), Jim Mckenzie (AAFC/ECORC, Ottawa).

 

1.0    Welcome and Introductions: The Chairman presented the introductory remarks, and brief introductions of participants were made around the table.

 

2.0    Adoption of the agenda                   Kaminski/Platford                 Carried

 

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

Motion to accept minutes                    Tekauz/Gossen                     Carried

 

4.0    Business arising from the minutes

 

   4.1 Treasurer’s Report (K. Rashid)- The total revenues for the past year were $300.00. The total expenses were 194.59.  The balance in the WCPD main account as of October 1st 1999 is $2063.58.  The balance in the Slides account as of August 31, 1999 is $2158.96 (see Report, Slide Editor).

Motion to accept report              Rashid/Burgoyne                  Carried

 

   4.2 Disposition of 1998 Resolutions :   NONE

 

   4.3 Correspondence  (Burgoyne, Rashid) - None received.

 

5.0    Appointments

   5.1 Resolution Committee -  P. Burgoyne, K. Turkington, and B. Gossen.

   5.2 Nominations Committee - G. Platford, R. McLeod, and D. Kaminski.

 

Motion nomination ceased                 Turkington/Rashid                 Carried

 

6.0    Guideline Editor’s Report.  Report was presented by G. Jesperson - The guidelines were updated in 1998, 26 diskette copies were sold at $10.00per copy (K. Rashid), no hard copies were sold.  A request was received from the Alberta Research Council for permission to post the Guidelines on their internal Library Internet. Permission was denied by the Executive based on the decision made in the 1998 Meetings not to post the guidelines on the Internet.  The deadline for submitting revisions is Nov. 15, 1999.  The Editor requested the purchase of a software program to facilitate page making and printing of Guidelines on a variety of printers.  The possible alternatives were discussed including the distribution of the Guidelines on CD-Rom, Internet web site ...etc.

 

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

 

Motion to Purchase an Adode PageMaker program by the Guidelines Editor

Holley/Tekauz                        Carried

 

7.0    Slide Set Editor’s Report - Report was received and read by Elizabeth Hudgins. Requests for one set each of Cereal Slide Set and Turf Slide set.  The balance in the slide account is $2185.96 as of August 31, 1999.  Fourteen slide sets are complete ( see Slide Set Editor Report).

Motion to accept report                       Platford/McLaren                  Carried

 

8.0    Website Editor’s Report  - Report received (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 Committee members, slide sets, and notices of meetings and agendas.

 

Motion to accept report                       Lange/Jesperson                  Carried

 

9.0    Status of CPS Publications:  Report received from Dr. Ron Howard, presented by Peter burgoyne.

 

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

   9.2 Diseases and Pests of Vegetable Crops in Canada.   This book is available in English or French.  A CPS ad-hoc committee with efforts to improve the sales of this book.

   9.3 Canadian Plant Disease Survey.  This will be published electronically as in previous years.  Deadlines for receiving 1st draft of articles is Dec. 10, 1999.   For further information, contact Prof. Morrall at Tel:306-966-4410 or at: <Morrall@amble.usask.ca>.

   9.4 CPS News .  Four News Letters are distributed annually, and are available on the CPS web site (contact David kaminski and Jim Menzies, editors).

   9.5 Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology.  Published by the Canadian Phytopathological Society, printed by the National Research Council.

 

10.0 Reports from the Pesticide Industry

 

  10.1        Gustafson  (R. McLeod).

 

  -      Vitaflo 280: In the past year, Vitaflo 280 has received registration on peas and lentils for seed rot and seedling blight.

  ­       Raxil: Raxil has also been recently registered on barley and wheat.

  ­       Vitavax rs:  This fungicide has is now approved for canola and rapeseed.

 

  10.2        BASF  (Leighton Blashko). The following report was presented:

 

         Ronilan  EG + Lorsban or Pyrinex tank mix :  Ronilan EG + Lorsban or Pyrinex  tankmix is now registered.  This tank mix is used in cases where insect and disease outbreaks occur simultaneously during the 20-50% bloom stage of canola.   Ronilan EG will control Sclerotinia stem rot in canola at 20-50% bloom.  Lorsban or Pyrinex, both containing the active ingredient chlorpyrifos will control insects on their respective labels.  With this tank mix, the producer can save the cost of one application.

 

         Ronilan EG split application :   BASF Canada has received a registration for a new use pattern for Ronilan EG in canola.  This is a split application registration used as follows:

         Split Application: Apply first application (200g/ac) at early bloom (20-30% bloom) with a second application (200g/ac) 7 days later at full bloom (50%) if the disease persists or weather conditions are favorable for disease development.  This  use is in addition to all other registered rates and uses.

 

11.0 Reports from Government Agencies

 

  11.1        Pest Management Regulatory Agency ( P. Beauchamp).  Report presented on fungicides update in 1999.  The highlights are the following:

 

         Chlorothalonil:   The main Bravo label and supplementals continue to be registered through to end of 1999.  A document is under preparation to address acceptability under TSMP. Requests for amendments which involve use expansion are not being accepted until the document is completed.

 

         Difenoconazole: Wheat seed treatment products with various disease claims have time-limited registration to allow the agency and company to address any comments arising during the PRDD comment period which ended in June 1999.  Ultimately a Decision Document should be discussed.

 

         Iprodione: Submission for control of Alternaria black spot (38 day PHI) on canola was completed in July.  This use has temporary registration to allow the company to provide confirmatory residue data.

 

         Tebuconazole:  Registration of technical and  Raxil cereal seed treatment was completed January 1999.  We are now in a better position to consider a submission for foliar use on cereals (Folicur) and are working with Bayer to arrive at data requirements.  Folicur received short-term Emergence use registration for Fusarium head blight in high-risk areas only this year, as well as Section 18 exemption in some US states.  A regular registration would be preferable although time is getting short for review by next season.

 

         Fenhexamid: Elevate 50WDG was registered in May 1999, as a result of a joint review (PMRA-EPA) for control of Botrytis cinerea on grapes, strawberries and ornamentals.

 

         Purogene: The emergency registration of Putogene (Chlorine dioxide) for the control of potato tuber rot in storage has been extended until June 30th, 2000.  There has been mention of corrosion problem associated with the use of this product.

 

         Magnesium phosphide: Magnesium phosphide based fumigants will be available for the 2000 use season.

 

         Submissions in Progress:

 

         New Active ingredients:   Azoxystrobin, krezoxim-methyl and cymoxanil reviews should be completed before the end of 1999.

 

         Hexaconazole:   Proseed seed treatment for cereal review is completed and document is with company for sign off.  This will be followed by consultation period and decision before product can be registered.

 

         Fludioxonil: Maxim potato seed treatment submission is under review.  Contact Novartis for expected timelines.  Only other registered use is corn seed.

 

         Fenbuconazole:  The URMUR for Indar to control disease of stone fruit has been received.  Decision date not yet known.

 

         Triticonazole:   Premis (Charter) seed treatment for cereals is under review.  Decision likely early 2000.

 

Comments:                                         Mancozeb is not registered for general use on ornamentals only on a limited number of nursery crop (arbor-vitae, ash, douglas-fir, holly, hawthorn, ivy, juniper, oak, pine, sycamore)

 

                              Subdue 2G is registered for use on ornamentals (greenhouse & container grown)

 

         Microbial Products:   Mycostop (Streptomyces griseoviridis) for soilborne pathogens in the greenhouse is currently under review (URMUR).  Contact Plant Products for timelines.   Submission have also been opened for Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Contact Bioworks and Agrium, respectively.

 

  11.2        Pest Risk Assessments / Canadian Food Inspection Agency Report received from Lesley Cree and read by K. Rashid.  Report describes the activities of the Plant Health Risk Assessment and Unit of the Science Division of the CFIA during the period Oct. 1998 to Oct. 1999.  Commodity risk assessments are completed by a team including I. MacLatchy and L. Cree (Plant Pathology), J. G. Garland and L. Dumouchel (Entomology), M. Prud’Homme (Biotechnology), R. Favrin( Survey Section), and E. Dobesberger and S. Wallace (Survey Biologists).   The report also lists the pests identified by the Plant Health Early Warning System, by the Commodity Pest Risk Assessments, Pest -Specific Risk Assessment, Biotechnology Risk Assessment, and by the North American Exotic Forest Pest Information System Plant Quarantine Pests Surveys 1997-98 of new and emerging pests that might endanger plants health in Canada.

 

  11.3        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 (previously Central Experimental Farm).  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.  Dr. McKenzie assured the WF/WCPD of the continuation of this service to Canadian institutions, and requested the cooperation of all participants in updating records of microbial isolates presently stored in various laboratories in Canada.

  

12.0          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:

 

  12.1        Cereals  (A. Tekauz).  Leaf diseases in Alberta in 1999 were generally less severe than in previous years, except for the leaf strip of barley which seems to occur at higher level each year. Premature tip-ripening/ head blasting  was common.  Ergot was evident in a broad area from Edmonton to southern Alberta.  Fusarium graminearum (FHB) was declared a pest in Alberta in 1999 and the Alberta Fusarium Committee will set up guidelines on how to deal with this pathogen.   In Saskatchewan, Fusarium head blight was less severe in 1999 than in 1998 with some exceptional hot spots.  Reports were presented on leaf rust and tip sterility on wheat, and leaf spots on barley.  Ergot was common in the north-east, central, and north-west regions of Saskatchewan.  In Manitoba, FHB was less severe than in previous years.  Leaf spots of wheat (tan spot, Septoria and spot blotch) were light to moderate, net-blotch and spot blotch of barley were light.  Wheat stem rust infection was very low but the wheat leaf rust was severe.  Smut diseases were at lower severity than in previous years.  Crown rust of oats developed slowly but built up to very damaging levels on late-seeded oat field.  In BC/ Peace River region, cereal diseases were less severe than normal.

 

  12.2        Forages Legumes  (S.F. Hwang).  Root rot disease complex was the most common problem in alfalfa and red clover in Alberta. In Manitoba, high incidence of leaf spot diseases were reported in alfalfa.  In Saskatchewan, blossom blight was common in the seed production area.

 

  12.3        Grasses  (G. Platford).  Lawn and Turf samples submitted to the Crops Diagnostic Laboratory in Manitoba showed Fusarium root rot, Septoria leaf spots and anthracnose.   In Alberta and Saskatchewan, pink snow mould and Fusarium patch were the most prevalent diseases.  In British Columbia, Pythium root rot, downy mildew,  and anthracnose were the most common diseases of turfgrass.

 

  12.4        Greenhouse Crops (L. MacDonald, presented by Elizabeth Hudgins).  The most important greenhouse disease in B.C. is Pythium root rot.  New /unusual diseases reported are bacterial canker in tomato, Fusarium stem rot in cucumber, and a foliar nematode in several crops.

 

  12.5        Mushrooms  (J. Menzies presented by K. Rashid).  Green mould (Trichoderma harzianum), dry bubble (Verticillium fungicola), bacterial blotch (Pseudomonas tolaasii), and Trichoderma spp.  remain the significant disease problems of mushrooms in Canada.

 

  12.6        Oilseeds   (L. Harrison/R. Lange).   Sclerotinia stem rot was severe in some fields from central to southern Alberta, blackleg was common in central Alberta especially on the moderately susceptible herbicide-tolerant cultivars, and Alternaria black spot and aster yellows were more severe than usual.  A new “wilt disease” and premature ripening was observed in the Peace River region.   In Saskatchewan, canola diseases (sclerotinia, blackleg, root disease, aster yellows) were more prevalent in 1999 than in previous years.   In Manitoba, herbicide injury was identified in most of the samples submitted to the Crops Diagnostic Lab, followed by blackleg, aster yellows, root rot and sclerotinia.  On flax, powdery mildew was observed for the third year in Manitoba and Saskatchewan at higher severity than in previous years.  Pasmo was the most prevalent disease in both provinces.  Sclerotinia infected flax stems were observed for the first time in heavily lodged fields in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  Aster yellows was exceptionally high in 1999. Sclerotinia wilt and head rot remain the most prevalent diseases on sunflower.

 

  12.7        Ornamentals   (J. Elmhirst presented by Vippen Joshi). The following diseases are considered to be of serious consequences in BC: downy mildew on roses, pear trellis rust on the coast, anthracnose on ash in the Lower land, twig/foliar blight in the Interior, bacterial blight/canker on the coast.

  12.8        Trees and Shelterbelts   (R. Lange). The Dutch elm disease (DED), the native elm bark beetle and the small European elm bark beetle are declared pests in Alberta.  Other tree diseases are of minor importance.  In Manitoba, DED is still a problem and is well managed by the local authorities. In Saskatchewan, the DED has advanced to new areas in the central region.  No reports of DED in BC.  

 

  12.9        Potato   (J. Holley).  In Alberta, late blight was moderate to severe, bacterial ring rot was detected on tubers, Rhizoctonia canker and Erwinia blackleg were high.  In Manitoba, late blight was most severe around Carberry, leaf roll virus was severe with extensive net necrosis, Rhizoctonia canker and  black scurf were observed in several fields.  In Saskatchewan, Late blight appeared early in some areas, Erwinia blackleg and Rhizoctonia canker were higher than normal, and Fusarium dry rot and silver scurf were observed in storage facilities.  In BC, late blight isolates were identified as strain US8, other diseases were pythium leak, Erwinia soft rot, Rhizoctonia canker, black and silver scurf.  Reports from eastern Canada indicate low levels of potato diseases.

 

  12.10      Special crops (A. Xue). In Manitoba, Mycosphaerella blight Aphanomyces root rot, and powdery mildew were the most prevalent diseases on field pea.  Bacterial blights and Sclerotinia stem rot were most common late in the season.  Sclerotinia blight, powdery mildew, Mycosphaerella blight, and Fusarium root rot were common in Saskatchewan and Alberta.  Rhizoctonia and Fusarium root rot, and bacterial blights were the most severe diseases of field beans in Manitoba.  Ascochyta blight, anthracnose, sclerotinia blight, and  Fusarium root rot were common on lentils in Saskatchewan.  Ascochyta was devastating on chickpea in Saskatchewan and southern Alberta.  Low levels of ginseng diseases were reported from BC.

 

  12.11      Fruits   (P. Sholberg).  Apple scab, fire blight, and bacterial cankers were at low levels in BC, while powdery mildew was more severe than normal.  In Alberta, brown rot, dieback and canker, and rust were common in saskatoon orchards.  The Manitoba Crop Diagnostic Laboratory received many samples of strawberry root rot, saskatoon root rot and leaf/berry spot diseases.

 

  12.12      Vegetables   (K. F. Chang).   In BC, the major disease problems reported are; white rot and Fusarium rot of garlic, downy mildew on broccoli, bacterial blights on Bok choy, Sclerotinia and bacterial rot on lettuce, black rot of cucumber, and Fusarium rot of watermelon.   Sclerotinia rot of peppers and Fusarium crown/root rot of asparagus were the two vegetable diseases reported from Saskatchewan.  Aster yellows was prevalent on carrots, celery, potatoes, and tomatoes.    Soft rot of carrot was severe in  Alberta.  No major diseases were reported from Manitoba.

 

  12.13      Interiorscapes    No major diseases were reported.

 

13.0          Special Topics

 

  13.1        Current issues in ginseng pathology.  Dr. Eric Littley, Plant Health Consulting, Kamloops, BC presented a seminar on ginseng pathology covering the following: overview of ginseng production, focus on BC ginseng production, major diseases including Alternaria leaf and stem blight, Botrytis, Powdery mildew, Rhizoctonia bud and stem rot, Rust, Phytophthora root rot, Pythium and Cylindrocarpon root rot.

 

  13.2        Overview of the 1999 CPS/APS Annual Meeting in Montreal. Participants were encouraged to carry on this discussion during the coffee break.

­­14.0          Report of the Nomination Committee

Nominations listed below for the year 1999-2000:

Executive committee

Chair              Peter Burgoyne

Vice-Chair                                Kelly Turkington

Secretary/Treasurer                 Khalid Rashid

Guidelines Editor                     Gayle Jesperson

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

Platford/Kaminski                         Carried

 

15.0          Report of the Resolutions Committee

 

         The following resolution was put forward by the Resolution Committee:

 

         Whereas the Internet has become a major source of information to the public; and whereas the WCPD has established a web site and posted information on the Committee’s executive and Chapter Chairs/Alternates, and agendas of meetings; and whereas it has been requested by several members to post the Guidelines for the control of plant diseases on the web site: Be it resolved that the Western Committee on Plant Disease commit in principle that the WCPD Guidelines for control of plant diseases be made available on the Internet in the future without a set deadline of initiation.

Kaminski/Gossen                         Carried

 

16.0          2000 Meeting .  WCPD will support the plans to have the meetings in Saskatoon.   Dates in October, 2000 to be determined by the Western Forum and the local organizers.

 

17.0           Adjournment.   Meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm on a motion by G. Platford.

 

Minutes recorded by. Khalid Rashid

Report from the Western Committee On Plant Disease To the Western Forum Meeting,  October 18, 1999

 

The 24th annual meeting of the Western Committee on Plant Disease was held in the city of Penticton within the picturesque Okanagan region of British Columbia. Plant pathologists from agricultural research, commerce, and technical support representing all geography’s of western Canada attended.  Participants from eastern Canada attended as well. In total, 40 participated in this year’s annual meeting.

 

Representatives from federal agencies were Jim McKenzie, AAFC Ottawa, who 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 also provided useful identification of several agency publications pertinent to pesticide registration, minor use, and resistance.

 

Strong industry representation was evident this year with individuals from 8 companies attending. Presentations were given regarding several product registration changes from Gustavson and BASF. 

 

As requested from the 1998 annual meeting, a special effort was made this year to have an invited guest provide information regarding ginseng pathology. In this vain, Eric Littley, ginseng production specialist of Plant Health Consulting Kamloops, provided a very informative question and answer session with the group, naming rhizoctonia stem and pod rot as the most challenging pathogen in ginseng production.

 

Gayle Jesperson continues her dedicated responsibilities as the editor of the WCPD publication, Guidelines for the Control of Plant Diseases in Western Canada. Gayle reported the current revisions of the guide are proceeding well with chapter revisions coming in steadily. A motion was unanimously passed for the WCPD to proceed to purchase an Adode Pagemaker for the WCPD Guidelines editor to transfer the Guidelines into a PDF format to facilitate the availability of a flexible format for printing on a variety of printers. This would be a preliminary step for the eventual preparation of placing the WCPD Guidelines on the Internet.

 

The regular business of the WCPD was undertaken with great enthusiasm. Lively reports were provided from various presenters involving CPS publications, disease situation reports, research status updates, and WCPD Guideline revisions. Detailed discussion ensued after each presentation, evidence of the great effort each undertook within their areas of responsibility.

 

The executive of the WCPD remains unchanged for the year 2000; Peter Burgoyne (Zeneca Winnipeg) as chair, Kelley Turkington (AAFC Lacombe ) vice chair,  and Khalid Rashid (AAFC Morden ) as Secretary / Treasurer  as elected in 1999. The nominations committee diligently arranged for several new alternatives to become responsible in the new year for various chapters  of the Guidelines.

 

The Resolutions Committee put forth the following resolution,  Be it resolved that the Western Committee on Plant Disease commit in principle that the WCPD Guidelines be made available on the Internet in the future without a set deadline of initiation.  The resolution was discussed and approved.

 

The meeting was concluded with discussion as to the location of next years meeting, Saskatoon, with October dates, 2000, to be set by the Western Forum.

 

On behalf of the Western Committee on Plant Disease,

Peter Burgoyne, Chair

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