Geographic variation in severity of phoma stem canker and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans/ L. biglobosa</Emphasis> populations on UK winter oilseed rape (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis>)

Phoma stem canker, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa, is the most important disease of oilseed rape in Europe. Differences between L. maculans and L. biglobosa in their life-cycles enable the two species to co-exist on oilseed rape crops over a cropping season. This review considers the factors affecting geographic variation in the severity of phoma stem canker epidemics and in the structure of the population of the pathogens in the UK, where the most severe epidemics occur in the south of England and cankers do not develop in Scotland. It is concluded that this variation is directly related to differences in climate, since weather-based models show that stem canker severity increases with increasing winter/spring temperature and temperatures are greater in the south of the UK. It may also be related to differences in pathogen populations, since surveys showed that the proportion of the more damaging L. maculans in stem cankers was greatest in southern England, with most L. biglobosa in northern England. Regional variation in agronomic practices such as cultivar choice and fungicide use may also indirectly influence phoma stem canker severity. Differences in cultivar choice result in differences in L. maculans race structure, which may influence the severity of epidemics. Differences in fungicide use may also influence pathogen populations, since L. maculans and L. biglobosa differ in their sensitivities to different azole fungicides. These factors are discussed in relation to strategies for sustainable production of oilseed rape by adaptation to threats posed by climate change.     

Relating plant and pathogen development to optimise fungicide control of phoma stem canker (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis>) on winter oilseed rape (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">napus</Emphasis>)

In winter oilseed rape experiments at Rothamsted in 2000/01 to 2002/03 growing seasons, the severity of phoma stem canker epidemics in summer depended on the timing of phoma leaf spot epidemics in the previous autumn, and hence on the timing of Leptosphaeria maculans ascospore release. The first major release of L. maculans ascospores was earlier in 2000 (26 September) and 2001 (18 September) than in 2002 (21 October). Consequently, the autumn phoma leaf spot epidemic was also earlier in 2000 and 2001 than in 2002. The resulting stem canker epidemics were severe by harvest (July) in 2001 and 2002 but not in 2003. No correlation was found between the severity or duration of phoma leaf spotting (lesion days or lesion °C-days) and the subsequent severity of phoma stem canker epidemics. Rates of leaf production and loss were similar in the three growing seasons. Out of ca. 25 leaves produced on plants during each season, leaf numbers 10–14 generally remained on plants for the longest. Treatment with flusilazole + carbendazim in autumn decreased the severity of phoma leaf spotting for several weeks after treatment, decreased the severity of stem canker the following summer and increased yield significantly in 2001 and 2002 but not in 2003. The most effective timings for flusilazole + carbendazim application were when leaves 7–11 were present on most plants and at least 10% of plants were affected by phoma leaf spot. Two half-dose applications of fungicide reduced phoma stem canker and increased yield more than a single full dose application when phoma leaf spot epidemics were early (<800 °C-days after sowing).     

Effects of fungicide on growth of Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa in relation to development of phoma stem canker on oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Controlled‐environment and field experiments were done to investigate effects of the fungicide Punch C (flusilazole plus carbendazim) on growth of Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa in oilseed rape. In controlled‐environment experiments, for plants inoculated with L. maculans, fungicide treatment decreased lesion size and amount of L. maculans DNA in leaves; for plants inoculated with L. biglobosa, fungicide did not affect lesion size or amount of pathogen DNA. When release of ascospores was monitored using a Burkard spore sampler, the timing and pattern of ascospore release differed between the four seasons. In 2006/2007, the majority of ascospores released were L. maculans, whilst in 2007/2008 the majority were L. biglobosa; in both seasons L. maculans ascospores were released before L. biglobosa ascospores. In field experiments in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, fungicide treatment decreased severity of stem canker on cv. Apex, but gave no significant yield response. In 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, fungicide treatment decreased phoma leaf spot incidence in autumn and stem canker severity at harvest, and increased yield. Fungicide treatment decreased stem canker severity more on cv. Courage, with a good yield response, than on cv. Canberra. In 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, fungicide treatment decreased the frequency of spread of L. maculans into stem pith tissues and in 2006/2007 fungicide decreased the amount of L. maculans DNA in stem tissues (measured by quantitative PCR). These results are used to suggest how effects of fungicides on interactions between L. maculans and L. biglobosa might affect severity of phoma stem canker and yield response.     

Epidemiology of root rot caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> crops

The infection of above-ground tissues of Brassica napus by Leptosphaeria maculans is well understood. However, root infection (root rot) under field conditions, the development of root rot over time and its relationship to other disease symptoms caused by L. maculans has not been described. A survey of B. napus crops was conducted in Australia to investigate the incidence and severity of root rot. Additionally, the pathway of root infection was examined in field experiments. Root rot was present in 95% of the 127 crops surveyed. The severity and incidence of root rot was significantly correlated with that of crown canker; however, the strength of this relationship was dependent on the season. Root rot symptoms appeared before flowering and increased in severity during flowering and at maturity, a pattern similar to crown canker suggesting that the infection of the root is an extension of the crown canker phase of the L. maculans lifecycle. All isolates of L. maculans tested in glasshouse experiments caused root rot and crown canker in B. napus and Brassica juncea. In the field, the main pathway of root infection is via invasion of cotyledons or leaves by airborne ascospores, rather than from inoculum in the soil. Root rot was present in crops in fields that had never been sown to B. napus previously, in plants grown in fumigated fields, and in glasshouse-grown plants inoculated in the hypocotyl with L. maculans.     

Evaluation of oilseed rape seed yield losses caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria biglobosa</Emphasis> in central China

Phoma stem canker of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), caused by Leptosphaeria maculans/L. biglobosa is a globally important disease. Severe phoma stem canker symptoms have been observed on winter oilseed rape in China but the seed yield loss caused by this disease remains unknown. In May 2012 and May 2013, 17 and 13 crops were surveyed, respectively, in seven counties of Hubei Province, central China. Stems with phoma stem canker disease symptoms were sampled for pathogen isolation and identification. Only L. biglobosa was identified by culture morphology and species-specific PCR; no L. maculans was found. To evaluate the yield losses, yield components (number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, 1000-seed weight, number of seeds per pod) were assessed on healthy and diseased plants sampled from crops in four counties and on plants from inoculated pot experiments (plants of three cultivars were inoculated at the green bud stage by injecting L. biglobosa conidia into the stem between the first and second leaf scars). Results of the field surveys showed that diseased plants had 14–61% less branches and 32–83% less pods than healthy plants, respectively. The estimated seed yield loss varied from 10% to 21% and from 13% to 37% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In the pot experiments, there were no differences in numbers of branches or pods but there were differences in number of seeds per pod between inoculated and control plants. For the three cultivars tested, the inoculated plants had yield losses of 29–56% compared with the control. This study indicates that L. biglobosa could cause substantial seed yield loss in China.     

Variations in relative humidity modulate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria</Emphasis> spp. pathogenicity and interfere with canola mechanisms of defence

Blackleg (phoma stem canker), caused by Leptosphaeria spp., is an important disease of canola (oilseed rape, Brassica napus). Control strategies rely on the use of resistant cultivars, chemical and disease-reducing cropping practices. In Canada, the pathogen population is represented by L. maculans and L. biglobosa, which are considered to be highly and weakly aggressive, respectively. It is largely admitted that L. biglobosa isolates are not able to cause a significant amount of stem canker and develop on the plant only when it becomes senescent, late in the season. The prevalence of L. maculans over L. biglobosa has been considered to be linked to the low aggressiveness of the latter. However, in this study, we show that L. biglobosa isolates could become highly aggressive in terms of lesion appearance on cotyledons, if the right conditions of temperature and relative humidity (RH) are provided. Percent germination of inoculated pycnidiospores was not affected by the RH regimes tested. This is the first study to show the importance of RH as a factor conditioning the pathogenicity of L. biglobosa isolates on canola cotyledons. Concurrent changes in the host defence mechanisms against L. biglobosa isolates in response to variations in the RH were also investigated. Under high RH, the increase in disease caused by the weakly aggressive isolates coincided with a reduced accumulation of lignin at the early stages of infection.     

World-Wide Importance of Phoma Stem Canker (Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa) on Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus)

Phoma stem canker is an internationally important disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus, canola, rapeseed), causing serious losses in Europe, Australia and North America. UK losses of €56M per season are estimated using national disease survey data and a yield loss formula. Phoma stem canker pathogen populations comprise two main species, Leptosphaeria maculans, associated with damaging stem base cankers, and Leptosphaeria biglobosa, often associated with less damaging upper stem lesions. Both major gene and quantitative trait loci mediated resistance to L. maculans have been identified in B. napus, but little is known about resistance to L. biglobosa. Leptosphaeria maculans, which has spread into areas in North America and eastern Europe where only L. biglobosa was previously identified, now poses a threat to large areas of oilseed rape production in Asia. Epidemics are initiated by air-borne ascospores; major gene resistance to initial infection by L. maculans operates in the leaf lamina of B. napus. It is not clear whether the quantitative trait loci involved in the resistance to the pathogen that can be assessed only at the end of the season operate in the leaf petioles or stems. In countries where serious phoma stem canker epidemics occur, a minimum standard for resistance to L. maculans is included in national systems for registration of cultivars. This review provides a background to a series of papers on improving strategies for managing B. napus resistance to L. maculans, which is a model system for studying genetic interactions between hemi-biotrophic pathogens and their hosts.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> plants infected by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis> after the third to fifth leaf growth stage in south-eastern Australia do not develop blackleg stem canker

Blackleg (Phoma stem canker) caused by Leptosphaeria maculans is the most damaging disease of Brassica napus (canola, rapeseed, colza) worldwide and is controlled by sowing blackleg resistant cultivars and crop management strategies that reduce exposure to inoculum and fungicide application. In experiments in south-eastern Australia, canola cultivars inoculated after the three to five leaf growth stage did not develop stem canker. Although mature canola plants are known to be less susceptible to blackleg than seedlings, this highlights for the first time the specific importance of protecting seedlings up to the three to five leaf growth stage in Australia. This would typically correspond to a period of four to six weeks after emergence. Canola plants are likely to be significantly less vulnerable to infection after this growth stage. However, this timing may vary due to the influence of environmental conditions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis>, a fungal pathogen of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis>, secretes a subtilisin-like serine protease

Leptosphaeria maculans,a fungal pathogen of Brassica napus, secretes large amounts of a 28kDa protein (SP2) in liquid culture. This protein shows high sequence similarity to secreted serine proteases from other ascomycetes and is the major component of culture filtrate with protease activity, as analysed on casein zymogels. The sp2 gene is expressed during infection of B.napuscotyledons when L. maculans hyphae are growing between mesophyll cells, as well as at later stages when the fungus invades the vascular tissue.     

Effects of fungicides on in vitro spore germination and mycelial growth of the phytopathogens Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa (phoma stem canker of oilseed rape)

BACKGROUND: Phoma stem canker, caused by the coexisting related fungal pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans (Des.) Ces. & de Not and L. biglobosa Shoemaker & H Brun, is a major disease of winter oilseed rape in the UK. Annually, over 90% of UK crops receive at least one foliar application of fungicide, but little is known about the sensitivity of the more damaging L. maculans and the less damaging L. biglobosa to these fungicides. The effects of flusilazole, tebuconazole and Methyl Benzimidazole Carbamate (MBC) fungicides (benomyl and carbendazim) on the germination of ascospores, conidia and germ tube growth of both species were examined. Isolates collected from different oilseed rape crops in England and Wales were assessed for their mycelial growth on fungicide‐amended medium, and ED₅₀ values were calculated. RESULTS: Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa differed in their sensitivity to fungicides. Conidial germination of L. maculans was more sensitive to these fungicides than that of L. biglobosa. Isolates of L. maculans had smaller ED₅₀ values for mycelial growth for all fungicides tested than isolates of L. biglobosa. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that fungicide applications might affect the structure of L. maculans/L. biglobosa populations in UK winter oilseed rape crops. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effectiveness of Rlm7 resistance against Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) in UK winter oilseed rape cultivars

The Rlm7 gene in Brassica napus is an important source of resistance for control of phoma stem canker on oilseed rape caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans. This study shows the first report of L. maculans isolates virulent against Rlm7 in the UK. Leptosphaeria maculans isolates virulent against Rlm7 represented 3% of the pathogen population when cultivars with the Rlm7 gene represented 5% of the UK oilseed rape area in 2012/13. However, the Rlm7 gene has been widely used since then, representing >15% of the UK oilseed rape area in 2015/16. Winter oilseed rape field experiments included cultivars with the Rlm7 gene, with the Rlm4 gene or without Rlm genes and took place at five sites in the UK over four cropping seasons. An increase in phoma leaf spotting severity on Rlm7 cultivars in successive seasons was observed. Major resistance genes played a role in preventing severe phoma leaf spotting at the beginning of the cropping season and, in addition, quantitative resistance (QR) in the cultivars examined made an important contribution to control of phoma stem canker development at the end of the cropping season. Deployment of the Rlm7 resistance gene against L. maculans in cultivars with QR in combination with sustainable disease management practices will prolong the use of this gene for effective control of phoma stem canker epidemics.     

Germination and invasion by ascospores and pycnidiospores of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis> on spring-type <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> canola varieties with varying susceptibility to blackleg

The infection processes of ascospores and pycnidiospores of Leptosphaeria maculans were studied on cotyledons of six cultivars of spring-type Brassica napus: one with resistance controlled by a single dominant gene (cv. Surpass 400), three with polygenic resistance (cvs. Dunkeld, Grouse, and Outback), and two susceptible cultivars (Westar and Q2). On all cultivars, ascospore germination, penetration, and development of symptoms on cotyledons were much earlier than that with pycnidiospores. At 2h after inoculation ascospores began to germinate, by 4h about 50% had germinated, and by 6–8h 85%–90% had germinated. In contrast, pycnidiospores began to germinate 1 day after inoculation (dai) and reached only 50% germination by 3 dai. Ascospores began germinating from terminal cells and then later from the interstitial cells. Pycnidiospores germinated predominantly from one end and sometimes from both ends. Germ tubes from ascospores penetrated stomata as early as 4h after inoculation, whereas those from pycnidiospores penetrated at 2 dai. Symptom development with ascospores was 2 days earlier than that with pycnidiospores. Symptoms on Surpass 400 were evident as early as 3–5 dai with ascospores and 5–7 dai with pycnidiospores. However, on other cultivars, symptoms were not evident until 10 dai with ascospores and 12 dai with pycnidiospores. This report is the first on differences in the infection processes by the two spore types. Ascospore and pycnidiospore attachment, germination, and penetration did not differ between resistant and susceptible cultivars, but there were major differences after penetration. Under high humidity, 80%–90% of stomata of susceptible Westar and Q2 had aerial hyphae emerging from stomatal pores. However, fewer stomata (5%–10%) had aerial hyphae on Surpass 400 by 10 dai with ascospores and 12 dai with pycnidiospores, but even these were usually poorly developed. Host differences in spring-type B. napus in relation to production of aerial hyphae have not previously been reported. In Surpass 400, rapid necrosis of guard cells occurred within a few hours of penetration by either type of spore, and subsequently one or a few cells immediately adjacent to the penetration site died. This necrosis then spread to the cells around the penetration site to form a hypersensitive response (in the form of a small, dark lesion) to both ascospores and pycnidiospores. This is the first detailed report on interactions between spring-type B. napus and L. maculans in relation to single dominant gene-based resistance. Neither the cultivars with polygenic resistance nor the susceptible cultivars had such a response.     

Effect of seed priming with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serratia plymuthica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas chlororaphis</Emphasis> to control <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis> in different oilseed rape cultivars

The efficacy of a seed treatment of oilseed rape (OSR) (Brassica napus) with the rhizobacteria Serratia plymuthica (strain HRO-C48) and Pseudomonas chlororaphis (strain MA 342) applied alone or in combination against the blackleg disease caused by Leptosphaeria maculans was tested with different cultivars. Seeds were soaked in bacterial suspensions (bio-priming) to obtain log₁₀ 6–7 CFU seed⁻¹. Cotyledons were inoculated with a 10 ul droplet of L. maculans spore suspension of log₁₀ 7 spores ml⁻¹ and the disease index (size of lesions) was evaluated 14 days later. A mean disease reduction of 71.6% was recorded for S. plymuthica and of 54% for P. chlororaphis. The combined treatment was not superior to the treatment with S. plymuthica alone. The reduction of the disease caused by S. plymuthica was independent of the cultivar’s susceptibility, whereas the control effect recorded with P. chlororaphis increased with decreasing cultivar resistance to blackleg disease. The bacterial colonization of OSR was restricted to the roots and hypocotyl. No significant difference in bacterial colonization of the rhizosphere was observed between different cultivars, nor between single or combined bacterial seed treatments.     

Maturation of pseudothecia and discharge of ascospores of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis> on oilseed rape stubble

The effects of temperature, wetness and darkness on formation of pseudothecia and the effect of temperature on the release of ascospores of L. maculans on oilseed rape stubble were studied in a controlled environment in South Australia. Pseudothecia of L. maculans developed at 5–20°C and the time taken to reach maturity and discharge ascospores decreased from 58 days at 5°C to 22.2 days at 15°C. The optimum temperature of those tested for pseudothecium maturation was between 15°C and 20°C but fewer pseudothecia were observed at 20°C than at 15°C. Exposure to a 12 h photoperiod enhanced pseudothecium formation on the stubble compared with continuous darkness. No pseudothecia formed on stubble moistened once a day at 15°C, whereas three sprays of water per day decreased maturation time in comparison with two sprays per day. More ascospores were released for a longer duration at 20°C than at 5–15°C, although peak sporulation occurred earlier at 5–10°C than at 20°C. These findings highlight the importance of moisture, temperature and light for production and release of inoculum from stubble. This information, combined with field data, may help to predict the onset of inoculum release.     

Resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) in Brassica napus (oilseed rape) induced by L. biglobosa and chemical defence activators in field and controlled environments

Effects of pretreatment of Brassica napus leaves with ascospores of Leptosphaeria biglobosa or chemical defence activators [acibenzolar- S -methyl (ASM) or menadione sodium bisulphite (MSB)] on infection by ascospores of Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) and development of disease were studied in controlled-environment (phoma leaf spot) and field (phoma leaf spot and stem canker) experiments. In controlled-environment experiments, pretreatment of oilseed rape leaves (cv. Madrigal) with L. biglobosa , ASM or MSB delayed the appearance of L. maculans phoma leaf spot lesions. These pretreatments also decreased the phoma leaf spot lesion area in both pretreated leaves (local effect) and untreated leaves (systemic effect). In winter oilseed rape field experiments in the 2002/03 and 2003/04 growing seasons, pretreatment with L. biglobosa or ASM in October/November decreased not only the number of phoma leaf spot lesions per leaf caused by L. maculans in autumn/winter, but also the severity of phoma stem canker in the subsequent spring/summer. Effects were greater in 2002/03 (when natural L. maculans ascospore release began in September 2002) than in 2003/04 (when ascospore release began in December following a period of dry weather in August/September 2003). These results suggest that pretreatment with biological or chemical defence activators can induce local and systemic resistance to L. maculans , with both short-term effects on the development of phoma leaf spotting and long-term effects on the development of stem canker 8 months later.     

The effect of winter weather conditions on the ability of pseudothecia of Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa to release ascospores

Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa are damaging pathogens of oilseed rape. The infection of plants occurs predominantly in early autumn or spring by spores produced in pseudothecia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pseudothecia formed in the autumn are still viable in the spring and to what extend they are destroyed by winter frosts. The studies presented here demonstrated that winter frosts can render pseudothecia unable to release spores. Nevertheless, ascospores present in pseudothecia unable to discharge ascospores, were fully capable of germination, regardless of the incubation temperature. No significant differences were found between the studied Leptosphaeria species in their response to frost. A multiple regression equation has been elaborated to forecast the ability of pseudothecia to release ascospores, based on winter temperatures. Considerable correlation was found between the ascospore release in the autumn and the ability of pseudothecia to release ascospores over the winter period and the subsequent symptoms of stem canker before harvest. We have demonstrated that the potential and the survival of inoculum can have a large impact on the success of the pathogen. This may be particularly important in the light of forecasted climate change. Higher winter temperatures may increase the ability of pseudothecia to release ascospores and the discharge of ascospores of L. maculans and L. biglobosa into the air, and cause early plant infections. This in turn will increase the number of infected plants, the disease incidence at harvest, and reduce the yield of oilseed rape.     

Fitness cost of virulence differs between the <Emphasis Type="Italic">AvrLm1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">AvrLm4</Emphasis> loci in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans</Emphasis> (phoma stem canker of oilseed rape)

To investigate whether the reported fitness cost of virulence at the AvrLm4 locus in Leptosphaeria maculans is common to other loci, near-isogenic (NI) isolates differing at AvrLm1 locus were produced in vitro. Fitness of virulent (avrLm1) or avirulent (AvrLm1) isolates on Brassica napus without the corresponding R (resistance) gene Rlm1 was investigated in controlled environment (CE) and field experiments. Results indicate that there is a measurable fitness cost for avrLm1 compared to AvrLm1 isolates in terms of number of lesions, size of lesions, distance grown through leaf tissue towards the petiole in CE experiments and systemic growth from leaf lesions to stems in field experiments. There were differences in fitness cost between the AvrLm1 and AvrLm4 loci. There was a cultivar effect on fitness cost of virulence at the AvrLm1 locus but not at the AvrLm4 locus. In CE experiments, the optimal temperature for leaf infection was greater for AvrLm4 isolates than for AvrLm1 isolates. Field experiment results suggest that on the same host AvrLm4 isolates are more fit than AvrLm1 isolates in warmer seasons. The fitness cost at the AvrLm4 locus was generally greater than at the AvrLm1 locus, suggesting that the corresponding R gene Rlm4 may be more suitable than Rlm1 for redeployment in commercial cultivars after an interval of a few years.     

Dissemination of Information About Management Strategies and Changes in Farming Practices for the Exploitation of Resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans (Phoma Stem Canker) in Oilseed Rape Cultivars

The management of phoma stem canker (blackleg disease, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans) is an integral component of oilseed rape production. In this paper, we discuss the information about management strategies that is disseminated in Europe and Australia. New cultivars have been introduced with improved resistance to disease, but sometimes this resistance has been overcome as new races of the pathogen have emerged. When cultivars with single major gene resistance have been introduced into areas with high inoculum concentrations, significant economic damage has been caused by new races of L. maculans within 2–3 years. Quantitative or polygenic resistance has also been used successfully against stem canker and offers more durable disease resistance if plant breeders and farmers deploy this resistance more effectively. Strategies to improve the durability of resistance need to be developed and tested in practice. New information on the occurrence of virulence and avirulence genes in populations of Leptosphaeria maculans and modelling of the durability of resistance provide opportunities for plant breeders, specialist technical organisations, cooperatives, advisory services and farmers to collaborate and better exploit cultivar resistance. Changing economic and environmental factors influence cropping practices and, if to be considered successful, management strategies must show clear financial benefits. Technology transfer will need to address all aspects of managing stem canker and other diseases of oilseed rape and using effective written, verbal and electronic methods of communication.