Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers has revealed the most prevalent races of Phytophthora sojae found in Manitoba.

Those races are 4, 25, 28 and 3 with Race 4 being most prominent.

This information will be helpful to farmers and agronomists who can be strategic in choosing a variety with resistance and in choosing what type of resistance genes may be most effective.

“This information is critical for our industry," said Kristen Podolsky, Production Specialist with Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers. "We wanted to get this knowledge out so that pathologists, breeders and seed companies can work together to strategically develop varieties that provide genetic resistance to the Phytophthora races specifically found in Manitoba,”

Phytophthora is one of four pathogens that cause seedling blight and root rot in Manitoba soybeans. It was especially bad this past year due to wet soil conditions and increased frequency of soybeans in rotation.

The study was funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers through the Pulse Science Cluster.