Epidemiological Study of Blackleg Disease of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) in Relation to Climatic Indices in Golestan Province

Document Type : Plant Pathology

Authors

1 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Golestan, Iran

2 Plant Protection Research Department, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Gorgan, Iran

3 Horticulture Science Department, Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

4 Biological and Environmental Sciences Department, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom

Abstract

Blackleg disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans, is one of the major factors limiting canola production worldwide. This study was conducted to investigate the epidemiology of the disease and its relationship with climatic conditions in Golestan Province, Iran. The results showed that the disease occurred in all regions during both cropping seasons, but its severity and spread patterns are varied significantly among regions and years. During the leaf spot phase, the highest incidence and severity were recorded in the first year in Bandar-e-Gaz and in Gorgan in the second year. In the first year diseases incidence and deases severity were significantly associated with minimum temperature and relative humidity, whereas in the second year, maximum relative humidity and heavy rainfall events emerged as the dominant factors. During the stem canker phase, Aliabad showed the highest levels of disease incidence and severity in both years. Correlation analysis indicated that mild minimum temperatures, high relative humidity, and heavy rainfall wer strongly positively correlated with disease incidence and severity.
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Applied Entomology and Phytopathology
Volume 93, Issue 2
March 2026
Pages 154-179

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