2022 Seed Survey Interim Results

Each year, the Saskatchewan pulse and cereal commissions partner with commercial seed testing laboratories to complete an annual survey of seed-borne pathogens measured on seed grown in Saskatchewan during the previous season. All labs that offer seed testing services to Saskatchewan growers are invited to participate in the annual survey with anonymous reporting of results amalgamated by crop district from all participating labs.

Interim seed quality data, collected from the time of harvest to the end of December, are summarized and communicated to growers, agronomists, researchers, and industry during the winter months, ahead of the next crop season. These interim results provide insights into seed quality trends and identify potential hotspots for seed-borne pathogens across the province. A final summary of results, including data from seed samples analyzed after the interim results, is reported at the end of May. This final summary is submitted for publication in the Canadian Phytopathological Society. Canadian Plant Disease Surveys. This publication of the provincial survey provides a record of seed-borne pathogen trends in pulse and cereal crops and allows for continued tracking of diseases over time.

Acknowledgements

The provincial seed survey would not be possible without the participation of 20/20 Seed Labs Inc., Discovery Seed Labs, Prairie Diagnostic Seed Labs, and Lendon Seeds. Thank you to all lab partners for their continued effort and support of this project. Brian Olson, independent contractor, is also gratefully acknowledged for his coordination of the seed quality survey and summarization of results. A special thanks is also extended to Dr. Randy Kutcher and Dr. Sabine Banniza from the University of Saskatchewan for their external review and pathology expertise. External review efforts of Alireza Akhavan, Provincial Plant Disease Specialist and Dale Risula, Provincial Special Crops Specialist, of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture (SMA) is also recognized with an extra note of appreciation to Alireza Akhavan and the SMA Geographic Information System (GIS) team for creating the seed-borne pathogen maps by crop district.

Germination

Percent germination levels were documented during the 2022 provincial seed survey with interim results showing a general improvement of germination levels across all crops from reported levels in the 2021. High numbers of seed lots harvested in 2021, particularly field pea, were reported to have below acceptable levels of germination; however, results to date indicate that mean germination across all crop types is at or above 89.9%.

Although germination levels look quite favourable across all provincial crop districts and all crop types, testing of individual seed lots is still recommended prior to seeding in the spring of 2023.

Pulse Pathogen Results

The interim results of commercial plate tests for seed-borne pathogens of lentil, field pea, and chickpea samples reveal a relatively high number of pathogen-free seed samples from across the province, although this number is slightly down from 2021. Results to-date suggest a slight overall in mean infection levels of seed produced during the 2022 growing season compared to results from 2021.

• Greater than 76% of lentil samples were free of seed-borne pathogens; samples that did have detectable levels of Ascochyta, Anthracnose, or Botrytis had a mean infection level that did not exceed 1.1%.
• Seed-borne Anthracnose is showing up on more seed lots relative to previous seasons (except 2016) and has a higher mean infection level than the past seven-year average (0.86).
• Seed-borne Botrytis was detected on less than 2% of lentil and field pea samples.
• Seed-borne Ascochyta was detected on 63.7% of field pea samples but mean infection levels (1.5%) were well below critical threshold levels.
• 45.9% of chickpea samples had detectable levels of seed-borne Ascochyta. On average, the level of infection was 2.1% and exceeded the critical threshold of 0.3%.
• Seed-borne Sclerotinia and Botrytis was not detected on any chickpea samples.

Distribution of submitted samples and crop districts reporting seed-borne pathogens varies across the province. Although the maps created by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture can help identify areas of lower risk of seed-borne disease, testing of individual seed lots is still recommended.

¹Mean infection level of samples with disease

Cereal Pathogen Results

The interim results of commercial plate tests for seed-borne fusarium pathogens reveal very low mean infection levels barley, durum, oat, and wheat samples tested as of January 9, 2022. The percentages of total Fusarium spp. and F.graminearum-free samples are trending lower with higher mean infection levels across all cereal samples relative to the prior season.

• F.graminearum was detected on less than 34.1% of barley, oat and wheat samples, but was identified on 50.8% of durum samples; mean infection levels were 4.4% or lower for all cereal samples.
• The highest percentage of total Fusarium spp.-free samples were in durum (29.7%), followed closely by wheat (20.5.6%); wheat and barley had the lowest mean infection levels of total Fusarium spp., 3.0 % and 3.8%, respectively.
• Most oat samples (98.6%) had detectable levels of total Fusarium spp. with a mean infection level 1.1% higher than that measured in 2021 (8.1%).
• 86% of barley samples reported a detectable level of total Fusarium spp.; however, the mean infection level to date is only 0.4% higher than in 2021.

¹Mean infection level of samples with disease

Despite overall low levels of Fusarium-infected cereal seed lots being reported in interim results, seed quality does vary by crop districts as detailed by maps created by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and it is recommended that seed lots should be tested on an individual basis.

Published February 2023