Pest Surveillance Initiative (PSI)

We use advanced crop pathology diagnostic methods- including DNA markers and Spore Imaging– to identify pests threatening your crops.

Why Test Your Field?

Accurately identifying and quantifying the pathogen type helps growers select the most appropriate management tool to address the problem before it impacts yield and profitability. In addition to advanced crop pathology diagnostic methods including spore imaging, PSI uses an increasing number of DNA based tools to determine the race or pathotype of the pathogen that may be present- key knowledge for maximizing genetic resistance traits in varieties. Monitoring the presence and levels of pathogens in the field provides ‘early warnings’ of emerging pests.

About the #GetTested Program

Manitoba Canola Growers Association Members can get free testing for clubroot, Blackleg race and Verticillium stripe on all their fields.

Testing for Glyphosate resistant Kochia and Tier 1 Noxious Amaranth Species is available as a fee-for-service test.

When to expect test results:

Please allow 10 business days from when PSI receives the sample for return of test results.

Any questions- contact us!

Testing Services


We test for presence of the following:

  • Clubroot
  • Blackleg
  • Verticillium Stripe
  • Glyphosate Resistant Kochia
  • Tier 1 Noxious Amaranth Species ID
Plants with both blackleg and verticillium stripe will exhibit symptoms of both diseases.

Did you know…

Blackleg and Verticillium stripe can both be present on a mature canola.

Blackleg is a stubble-borne disease caused by a fungus that favours wet/warm conditions.

Verticillium stripe is a soil-borne disease caused by a fungus that favours infection in stressed canola plants under dry/hot conditions.

Both diseases cause stunting, leaf chlorosis, lodging, dieback and premature ripening symptoms.

The Canola Council has prepared a guide to help growers and agronomists differentiate between these two diseases when scouting canola crops.

Submit samples for testing and confirm which disease or diseases may be causing yield loss. This information can help guide variety selection in future years.

From the Lab Bench…

2023 Amaranth Weed Species ID

PSI has assayed 69 submissions of Amaranth tissue so far in 2023.

Almost 3/4 of the samples have been A tuberculatus (Tall Waterhemp), a Tier 1 Noxious weed. Read more in our report. Samples for testing can be submitted as long as there is green leaf tissue on the plant.

What the Experts Say

Photo credits: Canola Council of Canada; MB Agriculture

Clubroot

Blackleg

Verticillium stripe

Glyphosate Resistant Kochia

Tier 1 Noxious Amaranth Species

Looking for information about how grower-funded research is helping canola growers? Start here

The Pest Surveillance Initiative is an applied research project of the Manitoba Canola Growers

With funding support from: