Strategies to increase durability of host resistance for effective control of phoma stem canker on oilseed rape

Phoma stem canker, caused by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, is a damaging disease on oilseed rape in the UK, causing annual yield losses > £100M despite use of fungicides. With recent loss of the most effective fungicides through EU legislation and predicted global warming, potential yield losses will increase. Use of host resistance to control this disease is becoming ever more important. However, new sources of resistance are often rendered ineffective due to pathogen population changes. This project will monitor emergence of new virulent races of L. maculans and prevent them from spreading into new regions; investigate molecular mechanisms of mutation from avirulent to virulence in L. maculans populations; understand effects of environmental factors (e.g. temperature) on durability of host resistance. New knowledge will be used to develop new control strategies by optimising deployment of host resistance and targeted fungicide application. This project will bring together a consortium with breeders, distributor, farmer and scientists to ensure effective control of phoma stem canker by directly applying knowledge from research into farming practice.