b'I think what we\'re going to see is really the beginning of an approachhere of tackling and getting ahead of PED. I think CanPEDNet isa wonderful start to that. MARIO TENUTAStudies are also underway in several provinces to measure the efficacymeasuring verticillium and other pathogens.of some PED control products and measures, such as chemical and The technique relies on a PCR-based test that can quantify the amount bio-fumigation, fungicides, nematicides, organic amendments and rotation.of verticillium DNA in a soil sample. According to Tenuta, its more accurate This includes New Brunswick where Al-Mughrabi is running trials.and takes much less time than the traditional method, which involves Nematicides and fungicides and the combination of both were trialed lastplating the soil and then looking for growth of verticillium colonies.year in research plots to test their efficacy against the root lesion nematodeThe plate method can take four to five weeks to get a quantification, and verticillium. Field-scale trials on the effect of the soil fumigant metamwhereas with the PCR test we can probably do a quantification within two sodium were also conducted in split fields, explains Al-Mughrabi. weeks and maybe even sooner than that," says Tenuta. We also expect Marketable yields were higher in the treated sections of the fields, which(the PCR test) to be more reliable in terms of consistency from sample to is a promising outcome, and more trials are planned for this coming season tosample, analysis to analysis, and even from lab to lab.validate the results. Tenuta maintains there are commercial labs around the country Tenuta notes soil health is an important part of the PED equation,interested in pursuing the new verticillium quantification method and he especially when it comes to soil organic matter. The greater the soil organicbelieves that could happen by the time CanPEDNet ends in 2023.matter, often the less the disease in the field, he says.I think what we\'re going to see is really the beginning of an approach For this reason, CanPEDNet researchers in Manitoba are running fieldhere of tackling and getting ahead of PED. I think CanPEDNet is a wonder-trials involving different combinations of fumigation and different ful start to that, says Tenuta.soil-building practices like the use of compost and cover crops. Were alsoAre we going to be able to answer everything we need to know about looking at biofumigation with some mustard crops, adds Tenuta. PED? No, but I think we\'re going to make a great leap forward and then The soil testing and analysis thats a key part of CanPEDNet is beinghave in place the field studies and the valuable connections between farm-conducted at the Agricultural Certification Lab in New Brunswick as well as aters and researchers and laboratories to keep moving forward in addressing the Phytodata laboratory in Quebec, which is utilizing a molecular method forthe disease. 18 SPUDSMART.COM SPRING 2021'