What is fusarium wilt?
Fusarium wilt is a recently discovered disease that was affecting canola in northern Alberta. The symptoms were different than those caused by some of the more common diseases of canola. Further investigation determined that the primary cause of Fusarium wilt was Fusarium oxysporum, and to a lesser extent, Fusarium avenaceum. Since then, more infected fields have been observed across the Prairie provinces. Fusarium wilt infects plants through the roots and plugs their vascular system, limiting the flow of water and nutrients up the stem which leads to stem discoloration, and if severely infected, plant death. Often, the symptoms are observed on only one side of the plant, or only a few branches.
