For inquiries regarding the content of the strategy, please contact:
Pest Management Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
December, 2008
Preface
Pesticide risk reduction strategies are developed under Pesticide Risk Reduction (PRR) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Pest Management Centre. To reduce undesirable impact of the use of pesticides in agriculture, PRR works with grower groups, industry, provinces, researchers and regulators to identify gaps in pest management and opportunities to develop and implement strategies to address these.
A pesticide risk reduction strategy is a detailed plan developed through consultation with stakeholders that aims to address grower needs for reduced-risk management tools and practices for specific pest issues. The strategy report presented herein is intended to provide an update on the activities supported by PRR in developing and implementing the strategy and new tools and practices made available through this process. The strategy also provides a baseline for tracking and measuring advancement in pesticide risk reduction.
For more information on the activities and outcomes of the strategy work to date, visit the Pest Management Centre website.
Acknowledgement
The Pesticide Risk Reduction acknowledges all participating stakeholders and organizations, including members of the Ascochyta Blight Working Group (Mark Goodwin, Jim Moen, Dr. Yantai Gan, Dr. Bruce Gossen, Dr. Sabine Banniza, Dr. Bunyamin Tar'an, Kofi Agblor, Ray McVicar, Penny Pearse, Faye Dokken, Earl Greenhough), Pulse Canada, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and University of Saskatchewan for their contribution and continued collaboration in the development and implementation of a reduced-risk strategy for Ascochyta blight management.
1. Executive Summary
This report summarizes the collaborative efforts, activities and progress of Pesticide Risk Reduction since 2003 in developing and implementing a reduced-risk strategy to manage Ascochyta blight disease of chickpea in Canada. PRR's Ascochyta blight strategy was developed in collaboration with pulse industry representatives including grower groups, commodity experts, researchers, and government specialists.
The objective of this strategy is to reduce risks to humans and to the environment from pesticides used to control Ascochyta blight in chickpea, while helping growers to ensure viable disease management and farm profitability. Within this strategy, pesticide risks and pest management issues are identified, reduced-risk solutions to address these issues are discussed and prioritized, and a plan of actions to support the strategy implementation is developed and carried out.
Chickpea is an important pulse crop in western Canada and is a priority commodity for PRR. The crop is grown annually primarily in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and there were about 150,000 hectares cropped to chickpea in 2007. Ascochyta blight is a major disease constraining chickpea production as it can kill entire chickpea plants and, if not adequately controlled, can result in up to 100% yield loss. The success of the chickpea industry depends on the effective and sustainable management of the Ascochyta blight disease. With warmer and wetter conditions becoming more prevalent and increasing infestation of fields, the threat of this disease to chickpea is expected to remain at high levels. Ascochyta blight of chickpea was, therefore, identified as a national priority issue for the pulse industry.
To manage the disease, growers apply as many as six fungicide sprays which are delivered on a regular basis through ground or aerial applicators. Lack of adequate disease forecasting and decision support systems to properly time applications is leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary sprays. Furthermore, there may be potential health and environmental concerns associated with the use of some fungicides, especially older chemistries. Health Canada is undertaking a re-evaluation program which uses up-to-date scientific approaches to examine older active ingredients and their end-use products to ensure the ongoing protection of human health and the environment. All active ingredients that were registered prior to 1995 are being re-evaluated under this program, and as a result, some of the currently used products may be removed from the marketplace. Also, some newer fungicides pose risks of inducing pathogen resistance to the chemical, and if used repeatedly in the field, these products may loose efficiency over time.
The PRR's Ascochyta blight strategy is thus centered on developing reduced-risk tools and practices to help growers determine the need and appropriate timing for fungicide applications, and promoting integrated disease management approaches with the goal to minimize unnecessary sprays and manage pathogen resistance to fungicides.
As part of the Ascochyta blight strategy, a working group was established, risk reduction goals and targets were set, actions addressing reduced risk solutions were undertaken and milestones are in place to monitor progress in strategy implementation. Through PRR, AAFC's Pest Management Centre has funded two projects, valued at about $434,000 to support the implementation of the strategy. Key achievements to date include generating knowledge about new reduced-risk cultural control practices and publication of best scouting and management practices field guides. Work is underway to develop early disease warning and decision support tools to help growers make judicious control choices, and to promote grower adoption of these tools. It is anticipated that the use of the tools and practices developed through this strategy will lead to positive changes in Ascochyta blight management practices and reduced risks from pesticides used in chickpea production.
2. Introduction
Under Pesticide Risk Reduction actions are being taken to address pest management and pesticide risk reduction issues related to Ascochyta blight control in chickpea. This issue was first identified through a gap analysis of information provided in the national Chickpea Crop Profile document developed and published by PRR. The issue was then established among the top national priorities of the pulse industry through consultations among Pulse Canada and the chickpea industry representatives in participating provinces. The reduced-risk strategy for Ascochyta blight management is unique to chickpea as, typically, the pathogen causing the disease is specific to chickpea.
Ascochyta blight is caused by the pathogenic fungus Ascochyta (A.) rabiei. The pathogen overwinters on crop residues and in or on seed, and is readily transmitted through infected seeds, rain-splashed conidia, and airborne ascospores. The presence of conidia can lead to several cycles of infection in a single season when conditions are favourable for the pathogen. Severe epidemics can develop particularly when warm and wet weather occur from late seedling to seed filling. The pathogen can survive for more than two years on exposed crop residue, but looses viability rapidly if buried deeply in soil.
Ascochyta blight is the single biggest threat to chickpea production in western Canada. The pathogen is found in all chickpea cropping areas in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Disease occurs every year and can cause extensive damage on a regional level. It affects all above-ground plant parts (stems, leaves, pods) at all growth stages. Even the most resistant varieties currently available in Canada can experience yield losses over 70% when conditions are favourable for disease development.
Overall, the management of Ascochyta blight in chickpea is beset with multiple challenges due to high susceptibility of chickpea to the disease, lack of epidemiological information specific to western Canada and the high dependency on fungicides. Planting chickpea cultivars resistant to Ascochyta rabiei could be an effective control option; however, such cultivars are not available in Canada. Currently available cultivars possess only partial resistance to the pathogen and this level of resistance can easily break down because of the high variability of the pathogen. Alternative, reduced-risk tools and practices, which can be incorporated within current production systems are required to minimize the damage caused by the disease. In addition to addressing the pest concern, adoption of these practices may offer significant opportunities for reducing pesticide risk and production costs.
3. Pest Management and Pesticide Risk Issues
Producers growing chickpea rely heavily on foliar fungicides to control Ascochyta blight, with as many as six applications of fungicides being used during the growing season. Calendar spray schedules starting at the detection of the first disease symptom is common for fungicide sprays because there is no effective forecasting system available for Ascochyta blight. Once established, Ascochyta blight develops quickly, so early detection of pathogen presence and timely sprays before the onset of infection are essential to prevent and mitigate the damage from this destructive disease.
Fungicide sprays targeting Ascochyta blight account for the majority of fungicide use in chickpea production. There are seven products currently registered for Ascochyta blight control in chickpea which represent both older chemistries (for example, chlorothalonil and thiabendazole) and newer ones (for example, strobilurins, boscalid, prothioconazole and fludioxonil). Most of these products are broad spectrum protectant fungicides with a few having both protectant and eradicant (curative) effects (for example, pyraclostrobin). However, all these fungicides are recommended for application on a regular, preventative spray schedule basis (every 7, 10 or 14 days) for optimum results.
The most heavily used foliar products are the strobilurins and chlorothalonil, while thiabendazole-treated seeds account for a significant percentage of chickpea acreage. Chlorothalonil and thiabendazole are under re-evaluation by PMRA and some uses may be lost as a result. In addition, A. rabiei is a highly variable pathogen and prone to resistance development. Strains of A. rabiei resistant to strobilurin-based fungicides (for example, Headline and Quadris) have already been detected among natural populations in many chickpea farms in Saskatchewan in 2008. A total loss of efficacy of these fungicides may occur over time if over-used in a season, without being rotated with compounds with different modes of action or combined with other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
Some crop production methods, such as cultivar and field selection, crop rotation and proper sanitation can help to prevent or suppress disease. However, innovative and effective cultural control practices are needed, as part of an integrated management approach, to significantly impact yield protection. These practices can complement the effect, and, therefore, minimize the use of fungicides.
Planting chickpea cultivars which are at least partially resistant to Ascochyta blight can contribute to improving control by delaying the onset of disease and disrupting the repetitive cycle of spore production and dissemination. Some adapted cultivars of kabuli and desi chickpea types that have partial resistance to Ascochyta blight are available in western Canada. Young plants of these cultivars are moderately resistant, but resistance declines at flowering, when chickpea become more susceptible to disease. In addition, fern-leaf chickpea varieties are known to have delayed disease development or less severe disease symptoms compared to unifoliate varieties. Extensive breeding programs are currently underway for development of improved resistant varieties at Crop Development Centre of University of Saskatchewan and other public sector laboratories.
4. Reduced-Risk Strategy for Ascochyta Blight Management
In the past, there has been limited opportunity for chickpea growers to gain access to alternative, reduced-risk products and practices. Concerns regarding trade barriers, the potential of loosing some of the available products to re-evaluation or resistance development, and the need to diversify the control options prompted the pulse industry to partner with Pesticide Risk Reduction. The partnership initiated in 2003 with the development of a reduced risk management strategy.
The initial step towards strategy development was for the Reduced Risk Team of Pulse Canada to hold stakeholder consultations across participating provinces (Saskatchewan and Alberta) to identify and prioritize issues of concern to growers and the environment. Following the identification of Ascochyta blight of chickpea as a top priority issue, the strategy work was conducted in the context of a larger risk reduction strategy for pulse crops. In September 2006, with the support of PRR a cross-provincial Ascochyta Blight Working Group was established engaging key industry representatives, commodity experts and research scientists in a focused effort to develop and implement sustainable solutions to this issue. The group has convened on several occasions to discuss potential reduced-risk solutions, approaches and actions to be undertaken for addressing the issue. All consultations have been facilitated by PRR, with Mark Goodwin coordinating and leading the sessions on behalf of Pulse Canada.
Through consultations with the working group and other pulse stakeholders, the following gaps and areas of concern were identified to be addressed by the strategy. A number of proposed reduced-risk solution options were also brought forward for each of these areas.
- Limited knowledge on resistance of chickpea cultivars to Ascochyta blight
- Limited knowledge on the extent of pathogen resistance to fungicides
- Need to investigate new cropping and cultural control practices
- Need for accurate timing of fungicide applications
- Need for integrated disease and fungicide resistance management systems
4.1. Strategic Action Plan and Progress
Analysis of gaps and solutions discussed through stakeholder consultations led to the development of a strategic action plan for Ascochyta blight control in chickpea (Table 1). The plan focuses on obtaining lower risk control tools and practices which:
- reduce reliance on fungicides,
- minimize unnecessary fungicide applications; and
- allow integration of various alternative control options.
There were four goals targeted in this strategic plan:
- Establish knowledge base
- Identify and develop new reduced-risk solutions
- Promote and facilitate adoption of reduced-risk solutions
- Evaluate strategy results
Each of these goals has been actively pursued with targeted support through PRR, including the funding of two specific projects (Table 2). Table 1 below outlines the goals, targets and milestones identified to address these goals, activities taking place to implement the strategy and progress to date.
| Strategy Goal | Target | Milestone | Status | Strategy Implementation Activities | Expected Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goal 1. Establish base knowledge | Improve knowledge on the pathogen | Assess the potential of several A. rabiei isolates to develop resistance to strobilurin fungicides | Complete | Work conducted through AAFC project PRR03-200. Among over 100 screened isolates, the majority were sensitive to both strobilurins (azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin), only one was highly resistant to both fungicides, and several were rate insensitive. Project completed. | March 2007 |
| Obtain information on disease epidemiology | In progress | Work is underway through AAFC project PRR07-360 to study key factors for Ascochyta blight development in chickpea, including timing of occurrence of A. rabiei inoculum vs disease appearance in the field and importance of distance from inoculum source. Project is currently in the 2nd year of the 3 year term. | March 2010 | ||
| Improve knowledge on host/pathogen interaction | Assess relative resistance level of chickpea cultivars | Complete | Work conducted through AAFC project PRR03-200 where 24 chickpea cultivars and genetic lines representing three market classes, that is, small sized kabuli, large-sized kabuli and desi and two leaf types were ranked according to their relative resistance and field performance. Generally, fern-leaf (pinnate) and more upright cultivars appeared less susceptible (developed up to 65% less disease) and performed better than unifoliate and more prostrate cultivars under same disease pressure. Project completed. | March 2007 | |
| Assess the effect of crop density, seeding pattern and plant architecture on disease severity | Complete | Work conducted through AAFC project PRR03-200. Increased disease suppression (by approximately 16%) and higher seed yield (by approximately 30%) were achieved in paired-row seeding patterns, especially benefiting unifoliate-leaf varieties. Field scale trials are further required to validate the efficacy of this method and work out the specifics for commercial implementation. Project completed. | March 2007 | ||
| Goal 2. Identify and develop new reduced-risk solutions | Investigate combinations of cultural and chemical control options | Evaluate fungicide coverage, rates, types and number /sequence of sprays and nozzle/spray patterns for efficacy under various crop planting densities, foliar types and seeding patterns | Complete | Work conducted through AAFC project PRR03-200. Generally, better fungicide coverage was achieved and about 30% less fungicide was needed to efficiently control disease and attain equal or greater seed yield using the spraying system with 3 nozzles in paired-row seeding patterns, especially for unifoliate varieties with heavier canopy. Project completed. | March 2007 |
| Evaluate efficiency of aerial versus ground sprayer applications | Complete | Work conducted through AAFC project PRR03-200 in collaboration with industry partners. Both aerial and ground delivery systems appeared equally effective with similar spray efficiency. Research results are reported in provincial extension publications. Project completed. | March 2007 | ||
| Improved timing of fungicide applications | Develop early disease risk warning system and deliver recommendations for timing 1st fungicide spray on need basis | In progress |
Work is underway through AAFC project PRR07-360 to:
|
March 2010 | |
| Develop a seasonal pathogen and disease risk based spray schedule | |||||
| Implement a user-friendly information delivery system to ssupport a sound management decision making process | |||||
| Develop extension material on integrated control practices | Develop and publish information packages which integrate reduced risk control tools | In progress | A Best Management Practices (BMP) information package is being developed based on findings from AAFC project PRR03-200. The BMP package to address cultural and chemical control strategies for Ascochyta blight management in chickpea including recommendations for:
|
March 2009 | |
| Goal 3. Promote and facilitate adoption of reduced risk solutions | Communicate results and improve grower knowledge on newly introduced tools and practices | Education of intended users on adopting the BMP package | Complete | Work partially conducted through AAFC project PRR03-200 by making results from the project available and accessible through:
|
March 2007 |
| In progress | March 2009 | ||||
| Education of growers on the use of the disease risk and action recommendations | In progress | Work is underway through AAFC project PRR07-360 to train and encourage growers to use the Ascochyta blight disease risk warning information and follow respective action recommendations. When validated in the field, such information will be incorporated as part of an IPM protocol for grower use. | March 2010 | ||
| Develop and distribute extension material on management decision support system | In progress | First issue of a field guide titled "Scouting and Management of Ascochyta Blight in Chickpea" was published and introduced to chickpea growers in Spring 2008 as part of AAFC project PRR07-360. The guide contains elements of the Decision Tree support system, is easy to use, and is designed to assist growers and agronomists in making management decisions in the field. A revised issue will be published in March 2010 to include new information from the ongoing project. | March 2010 | ||
| Demonstrate the economic viability and feasibility of newly introduced tools and practices | Field demonstration of recommended tools | In progress | Work is underway through AAFC project PRR07-360 to demonstrate to the growers the use of the Ascochyta blight early warning and decision support systems as part of an IPM system. | March 2010 | |
| Cost benefit analyses of recommended tools and practices | In progress | Work is underway through AAFC project PRR07-360 to assess the cost benefit analyses of using the disease warning and decision support systems to manage Ascochyta blight in chickpea. | |||
| Goal 4. Evaluate strategy results | Monitor progress of strategy work | Obtain data on pesticide use and IPM adoption | Complete | Focus groups were held with Pest Management Centre (PMC) and Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) support to complete an Expert Poll for pulses which includes some information on current pesticide use patterns and IPM adoption in chickpea. | March 2008 |
| Design and conduct comparative grower survey on use of new tools and practices | In progress | Grower survey will be conducted under AAFC project PRR07-360 before and after the chickpea growing season to determine the usefulness of the disease warning and decision support systems in leading growers to change practices and make judicious management decisions in the field. | March 2010 | ||
| Measure risk reduction potential | Design indicators to measure risk reduction resulting from adopting recommended tools | In progress | Most of indicators are project-specific and may include: amount of reduced pesticide use per unit area (less sprays or area sprayed) as a result of the changes in practice, reduction in Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) levels, number of growers informed about (or adopting) the reduced risk tool and acreage they represent, chickpea acreage where the reduced risk tool and practices are potentially applicable, etc. | March 2010 |
| Project Code | Principal Investigator | Start/End | Project Title | Anticipated/Final Outputs | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRR03-200 | Yantai Gan, AAFC, Swift Current, Saskatchewan | 2003-2007 | Developing cultural and alternative tools to manage Ascochyta blight in chickpea | Beneficial Management Practices package prepared from the research results will be made available to chickpea producers to assist them in making decisions for Ascochyta blight management regarding: cultivar selection, planting densities and configuration fungicide application methods |
$322,600 |
| PRR07-360 | Mark Goodwin, Pulse Canada | 2007-2010 | Two decision support tools that will target Ascochyta blight on chickpea | Tools to accurately predict disease and make informed decisions for fungicide applications;A "Scouting and Management" field guide | $111,724 |
| Total | $434,324 | ||||
5. Summary of Strategy Outcomes
The chickpea Ascochyta blight strategy and projects supported thought PRR are generating useful results towards attaining sustainable management of Ascochyta blight.
The main outcomes expected from this strategy work include:
- an early Ascochyta blight disease warning system
- a field-specific support system for making disease management decisions
- a delivery vehicle to communicate management recommendations to users
- field guides on best disease scouting and management practices
- a cohort of collaborating chickpea growers and agri-retailers reached and trained to implement newly developed practices.
It is anticipated that in combination, these outcomes will help chickpea growers reduce reliance on chemicals, achieve more effective and reduced risk management of Ascochyta blight, while maintaining viable chickpea production.
Through this strategy work, PRR is also providing collaboration opportunities and promoting new partnerships. A number of partnerships and in-kind contributions valued at approximately $164,000 were generated through collaboration among Pulse Canada, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Crop Development Centre of University of Saskatchewan, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Working together, increases the likelihood that risk reduction goals in Ascochyta blight control are achieved and sustainable chickpea production becomes a reality.
This document will be updated regularly to reflect new information as it becomes available.