The Biocontrol of Blackleg Using Carnivorous Bacteria

Canola is one of Canada’s most important agricultural crops. Blackleg is a serious disease of canola potentially causing losses of hundreds of millions of dollars per year. This project will provide a new method of biocontrol of blackleg which will prevent or reduce losses to canola. This biocontrol method uses bacteria which are predators of other bacteria and fungi such as Leptosphaeria maculans, the cause of blackleg. The Mitacs intern for this project will isolate these predatory bacteria from soil and determine whether they can kill or stop the growth of Leptosphaeria maculans. The intern will identify these bacteria by a combination of traditional microbiological techniques and molecular techniques. When successful predatory bacteria are isolated their usefulness in protecting canola in the field will be evaluated. The success of this project will provide canola farmers with a new tool in their arsenal of plant protection options. Predatory bacteria are natural, sustainable, do not involve synthetic chemicals, and are inexpensive.

Faculty Supervisor:

Paul Holloway

Student:

Partner:

Canola Council of Canada

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Winnipeg

Program: