Category: Resource

ontario greenbelt at risk

Cutting the Greenbelt puts Ontarians’ food security at risk

Cutting the Greenbelt puts Ontarians’ food security at risk This past weekend, grassroots organizations and residents of all ages across Southern Ontario bundled into their coats and tuques to rally and raise signs saying “Save the Greenbelt” and “Keep the Green” while chanting “Hands off the Greenbelt!”. A palpable sense of frustration for the need […]
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Hydroponic strawberries being grown in a greenhouse in Canada

The Rise of Hydroponic Strawberries

The Rise of Hydroponic Strawberries With an increased prevalence of pathogens in various crops and a development in hydroponic technology, it seems that hydroponic strawberries have become a popular crop among growers. There are many benefits to both growers and Canadian consumers regarding hydroponic strawberries. We will look at some of these benefits and what […]
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rhizoctonia tomato stem

Pathogen Profile: Rhizoctonia solani

Rhizoctonia solani What is Rhizoctonia solani? The fungus Rhizoctonia solani is a soilborne pathogen that spreads in wet and warm conditions. It infects many economically vital plants—including greenhouse vegetables, ornamentals, and field crops [1, 2]. Crops affected by this pathogen include peppers, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, rice, soybeans, wheat, lilies and turf grass. In fact, it […]
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field vs vertical lettuce

Hydroponic vs. Soil Cultivation

Hydroponic vs. Soil Cultivation Hydroponic farming mitigates many issues and stressors that traditional farmers face. These issues can include reliance on the weather, soil erosion, poor drainage, and unsuitable soil compaction or nutrient density. Hydroponic farming allows for less usage of water than irrigation systems. Hydroponics not only recycle water, but its controlled system will […]
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Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus lettuce

Pathogen Profile: Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus

Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus An emerging threat to greenhouse vegetables Impatiens necrotic spot virus first emerged in floriculture and nursery crops [1] and is now affecting and causing considerable losses to these greenhouse-grown vegetable crops such as cucumber, tomato, pepper, and lettuce [2]. An economic analysis done on two lettuce growers in the Salinas Valley […]
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ralstonia bacterial wilt tomato potato

Pathogen Profile: Ralstonia solanacearum

Ralstonia solanacearum What is Ralstonia solanacearum? The bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is a Gram-negative, soil-borne bacterial pathogen that causes bacterial wilt and brown rot in potatoes. This bacterium belongs to a complex of four groups called phylotypes. These groups are known as the R. solanacearum species complex (RSSC). Each group is dominant in a geographical […]
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fusarium in banana root

Pathogen Profile: Fusarium oxysporum

What is Fusarium oxysporum? Fusarium oxysporum is a fungus which can cause root rot, crown rot and, most commonly, wilting in a wide variety of crops such as basil, lettuce, cannabis and tomatoes (Figure 1). Wilting caused by F. oxysporum is known as Fusarium wilt and is a common culprit in field agriculture but is […]
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Figure 3. Powdery mildew on watermelon leaves, caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea, Erysiphe cichoracearum. 

Pathogen Profile: Podosphaera xanthii

What is Podosphaera xanthii? Podosphaera xanthii is a pathogenic fungus which causes “powdery mildew” on plants, especially cucurbits [1]. The naming of this fungus is not standardized, and you may also know it as Podosphaera fusca, Sphaerotheca fuliginea or Sphaerotheca fusca [1]. In addition to P. xanthii, powdery mildew is caused by many other fungal […]
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lettuce soft rot

Pathogen Profile: Pectobacterium carotovorum 

What is Pectobacterium carotovorum? Pectobacterium carotovorum is one pathogen, of many, that causes soft rot in plants. It is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobe [1], (Figure 1). This bacteria is part of the order Enterobacterales [2] which includes other well-known bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella, to name a few. Soft rot is […]
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