Page 224 - Plant Canada 2024 Proceeding

PLANT CANADA 2024

and 48 DSI. Colonization of cabbage plants by B. bassiana was measured by plating 1-cm sterilized leaf
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and root pieces on PDA. After 14 days at room temperature, conidia of B. bassiana were visible on
infested plant tissue, but no significant interactions were observed. Average percent colonization for the
leaf sections was 10% for Botanigard and 6% for Bioceres. It was not possible to assess colonization of
the roots because of plate contamination. We conclude that inoculation of brassica transplants with B.
bassiana to manage clubroot has promise and future research is warranted.

[P41] POTATO FIELD AND STORAGE SCOUTING FOR IDENTIFICATION OF POTATO FUNGAL
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1
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DISEASES. M. Sayari , M. Elshetehy , P. Rehal , V. Bisht , C. Timoteo Assuntao , Nasem Badreldin ,
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1,2
and F. Daayf . Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada;
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3
2 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt; Manitoba Agriculture
& Resource Development, 65 - 3rd Avenue NE, Carman, MB R0G 0J0, Canada; Department of
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Agricultural Sciences, State university of Maringa, campus of Umuarama, Umuarama, Parana, 87502-
970, Brazil; and Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
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Correspondence to: fouad.daayf@umanitoba.ca

Disease scouting was done in 2023 in Manitoba potato fields and storage units. The aim of this project
was to scout potato fields across various locations in Manitoba to assess the prevalence of diseases
affecting potato crops. For this purpose, the objective was to identify and characterize potential causal
agents responsible for these diseases in the collected samples. Fields were selected from different
regions within the province of Manitoba to ensure representativity of potato-growing areas. Samples
consisting of potato stems, roots and tubers exhibiting signs of disease, including discoloration, lesions,
or any other visible symptoms were taken to the lab for analysis. Fungal pathogens were isolated using
standard techniques, i.e., on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Isolated pathogens were then subjected
to microscopic examination for characterization up to the genus level. The plates were then incubated at
25°C. After 3 to 7 days, distinct fungal colonies were sub-cultured onto water agar medium. Following
microscopic examination of the asexual spores, different strains were selected and transferred to fresh
PDA plates for DNA extraction, followed by PCR using Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) and
Translation Elongation Factor (TEF) primers. We successfully isolated and microscopically characterized
several pathogens, including, but not limited to Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum coccodes, Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum, Alternaria alternata, Alternaria solani, Verticillium dahliae, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis
cinerea, Sordaria fimicola, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Chaetomium globosum, Neonectria candida,
Torula herbarum, and Lecanicillium psalliotae. Given the fact that many of these species are known to be
potato pathogens, their identification and characterization provide valuable insights into the disease
landscape affecting potato crops in Manitoba. Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of these
pathogens is crucial for implementing effective disease management strategies to safeguard potato
production and ensure food security in the region and beyond. Further research and collaborative efforts
between agricultural stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers may be warranted to develop targeted
interventions and mitigate the impact of these diseases on potato cultivation.

[P42] EXPRESSION OF SOYBEAN DEFENSE GENES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALICYLIC AND
JASMONIC ACIDS DEFENSE SIGNALING PATHWAY IN RESPONSE TO FUSARIUM GRAMINEAUM
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(Schw.). Nadia Garma , Rhodesia Xeloy , Mohammad Sayari , Mohamed El-Shetehy , Pawanpuneet
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1,3
Rehal , and Fouad Daayf . Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T
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1
2N2, Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, AB,
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Canada; and Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
3
Correspondence to: fouad.daayf@umanitoba.ca

Fusarium head blight (FHB) has been a devastating disease threatening cereal crops worldwide. In
Central and Western Canada, where the wheat-soybean rotation is practiced, diseases caused by Fusarium
species are also widely spread on soybeans. Different Fusarium species are associated with FHB in
cereals, especially Fusarium graminearum (Schw.), but this pathogen has also been recently confirmed to
cause soybean root rot. This represents a new potential threat to soybean production and requires more in-
depth studies on the F. graminearum- soybean interactions. While defense mechanisms of wheat against F.
graminearum have been largely investigated, no such studies were reported in soybean. To better
understand this soybean-F.graminearum interaction, a differential soybean-F.graminearum system
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