b'Blackleg lesion at the base of a canola stem showing small black pycnidia (asexual fruiting bodies) of the blackleg fungus. PHOTO: KELLY TURKINGTONTurkington advises a close look at fieldscan test, which will indicate what history to help producers choose the bestfungal diseases were present on the crop variety possible or to signal the need toand to what extent. This information extend crop rotations. For example, ifcan be used to further tweak a disease they had issues with leaf spot diseasemanagement program, with regard to and/or Fusarium in the cereals plantedseed and seed treatment choice, as well in previous years, producers shouldas length of rotation.choose a variety with at least a moderateWhen the moisture level of resistance. Turkington saysarrives, even a lowPulse Outlookthere is excellent stripe rust resistance inAs with canola and wheat, pulses todays wheat varieties, from moderatelevel of cereal leafexperienced an upsurge in fungal to full resistance now available. spot inoculum ondisease levels in 2019 due to all The disease ratings of previous varietythe moisture. Robyne Bowness choices will also give insight into whichold crop residuesDavidson, pulse research scientist at growers should choose for 2020 or ifcan be a concern.Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, says a more extended rotation is needed.Mycosphaerella (Ascochyta) blight Turkington adds that fungicides are key Kelly Turkington was present at high levels in the 2019 tools for in-season disease management,field pea crop and if the 2020 growing and crop scouting will always be criticalseason is wet again, it will also be a to determine if the disease risk warrantslarge concern due to higher inoculum a fungicide application.levels that will overwinter in the crop Lastly, besides good crop managementdebris. It was present in every single practices in 2020, Turkington advisesfield surveyed regardless of whether or growers to send samples of their 2019not producers applied a fungicide, she harvested grain to a lab for a full fungalexplains. Downy mildew, another foliar 14seed.ab.ca'