Survival of Penicillium bilaiae inoculated on canola seed treated with Vitavax RS and Extender

The fungicide Vitavax RS and the seed polymer Extender were sequentially applied to canola seed to determine their effect on the fungal inoculum, Penicillium bilaiae. In the laboratory, the fungicide was applied at the recommended rate of 23.4 ml kg^–1, and the polymer was applied by the manufacturer. Significant death of P. bilaiae occurred after 2.5 days on the Vitavax RS-treated seed and after 1.5 days with the seed treated with both Vitavax RS and Extender. In field treatments, the seed was sown at six sites in the fall just prior to freeze-up. Results from the laboratory experiment indicate that there should be no harmful effects of the Vitavax RS and Extender on the P. bilaiae at the time of seeding because the seeds were sown within 2 h of inoculation. The environmental extremes in 2001 and 2002 resulted in large variations in the data. P. bilaiae did not increase yield under these conditions.