PATHOLOGY
Our pathology team at WCI plays a crucial role, providing quality analysis and expert guidance for our breeding pipelines. These efforts lead to the selection of new varieties that not only meet but exceed diverse industry requirements, equipping farmers with robust options to optimize their yields and tackle environmental challenges effectively.
Disease Surveillance and Population Studies
Each summer, our researchers conduct detailed disease surveillance to identify the incidence and severity of known and emerging diseases affecting barley and triticale in central Alberta. Additionally, we study the changes in pathogen populations for diseases such as net form net blotch, spot form net blotch, scald, spot blotch, and stripe rust across western Canada. This research is critical for tracking the emergence of new virulent pathogen strains that threaten productivity, and for preparing effective responses by identifying and integrating new disease resistance genes into varieties under development.
Screening for Disease Resistance
Our team actively screens advanced breeding lines and genebank accessions at both the seedling and adult plant stages. This involves screening across multiple locations in disease nurseries situated in disease hotspots. This process is vital for identifying and selecting breeding lines with multiple disease resistances, ultimately enhancing the robustness of our crop varieties. Simultaneously, genebank accessions are screened to identify accessions with novel traits that could enrich and diversify the program’s germplasm resources.
Innovative Disease Control Techniques
Looking to the future, we’re enthusiastic about expanding our research efforts. We aim to develop novel disease control techniques, such as RNA interference (RNAi), a technology with promising applications in sustainable agricultural pathogen management.
Facilities and Resources
Our pathology operations are supported by sophisticated lab spaces at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lacombe Research and Development Centre and a dedicated disease nursery at Crop Diversification Centre – North in Edmonton. Additional disease testing is conducted on-site at the core WCI land base in Lacombe. These facilities allow us to conduct our research efficiently and effectively, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in plant pathology.