Chickpeas Lentils Peas Disease Root Rot Seeding
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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.

Table 1. Average percent germination of Saskatchewan pulse and cereal seed samples analyzed by commercial labs as of January 9, 2023.

Type Crop Number of Samples Mean Germination (%)
Pulses Lentils 298 96.6
Peas 246 89.9
Chickpeas 35 87.0
Cereals Barley 178 96.1
Durum 205 92.4
Oats 76 96.1
Wheat 534 95.3
Figure 1. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed Germination in Lentil.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 2. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed Germination in Pea.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 3. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed Germination in Chickpea.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 4. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed Germination in Barley.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 5. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed Germination in Durum.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 6. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed Germination in Oats.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 7. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed Germination in Wheat.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

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.

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.

Table 2. Average percent of pathogen-free pulse seed samples and average infection levels measured in samples with disease analyzed as of January 9, 2023.

Crop Pathogen Number of Samples Pathogen-free samples Mean infection1
(%)
Lentils Ascochyta 297 98.3 0.3
Anthracnose 296 76.4 1.1
Botrytis 296 99.7 0.3
Sclerotinia 297 97.3 0.4
Field Peas Ascochyta 245 36.3 1.5
Botrytis 233 98.3 0.7
Sclerotinia 234 98.7 0.7
Chickpeas Ascochyta 35 51.4 2.1
Botrytis 35 100.0 0.0
Sclerotinia 35 100.0 0.0

1Mean infection level of samples with disease

Figure 8. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed-Borne Anthracnose in Lentil.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 9. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed-Borne Ascochyta in Field Pea.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 10. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Seed-Borne Ascochyta in Chickpea.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

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.

Table 3. Average percent of pathogen-free cereal seed samples and average infection levels measured in samples with disease analyzed as of January 9, 2023.

Crop Total Fusarium Fusarium graminearum
Pathogen-free samples Mean infection1 Number of Samples Pathogen-free samples Mean infection1 Number of Samples
(%)
Barley 14.0 3.8 172 65.9 1.3 176
Durum 29.7 4.8 202 49.2 4.4 193
Oats 1.4 8.1 71 83.5 1.3 79
Wheat 20.5 3.0 502 72.1 1.1 535

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.

Figure 11. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Total Seed-Borne
Fusarium in Barley.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 12. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Total Seed-Borne
Fusarium in Durum.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 13. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Total Seed-Borne
Fusarium in Oat.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 14. 2022 Interim Seed Test Result for Total Seed-Borne
Fusarium in Wheat.
Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

Published February 2023

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