b"them onto the leaves of potato plants in the greenhouse at the AAFC Harrington Research Farm in P.E.I. Following the application of selenium, they injected the plants with late blight pathogen spores and then sprayed the plants again with selenium. The selenium actually elicited some of these plant defense responses or induced them. And that helped with reducing disease development and late blight development, Peters said. The team found that there was some inhibition of the pathogen in the plants too. There could be multiple modes of action here then. Its not only eliciting plants defenses, but also having some direct effect against the pathogen.Where theres multiple modes, youre a lot more confident that you wont getBourlaye Fofana, an Agriculture andRick Peters, a plant pathologist with resistance development, for example, whichAgri-Food geneticist Agriculture and Agri-Foodis becoming more of a concern for a lot of pesticide products these days. second spray prevented late blight fromSelenium application is an environmentally The team found that the first spray ofgrowing in the potatoes. The results werefriendly and natural control method meaning selenium solution caused the plant to readyreplicated in greenhouse trials at AAFCsit could work for late blight control on itself to defend against disease while theCharlottetown Research and Developmentorganic crops. Fofana is currently working Centre and in laboratory trials withto get selenium added to the Canadian Food selenium stalling the growth of late blight inInspection Agency approved products for test tubes. organic production list. The plant has an innate capacity, andThe number of products to help protect were learning more about this all the time.potatoes and tomatoes especially in organic The plant has the capacity to defend itselfsystems is limited. There are some products from attack by pathogens, and it can be justfor commercial production systems. a matter of stimulating that somehow, PeterOtherwise, we'll be experiencing episodes of adds. late blight every year, Fofana adds.Due to the risk of late blight spreading,The selenium application can be used on Fofana couldnt complete the test in anconventional farms with Fofana mentioning outdoor field setting. Hes confident thoughit can be diluted with water and applied at the results could be similarly positive forthe same time as pesticides to crops. farmers looking to prevent late blight diseaseSince we dont know when late blight in their commercial crops. will be coming, we dont know yet how Fofana recommends applying seleniumoften they will reapply, Fofana says, adding to crops when theres no rain in the forecasttheyre doing further tests on this currently.for one to two days to ensure maximumFofana and his team identified genes in effectiveness against preventing late blight.potatoes that are activated by the selenium There are additional benefits for farmers aftertreatment, boosting the plants immunity applying this solution. In regions such asand preventing late blight. Theyre now P.E.I. where selenium levels are low in soil,working to determine if selenium can prevent this will replenish the micronutrient, helpingother potato diseases after planting. to improve the plants nutritional value.SPUDSMART.COMWinter 202439"