In Australia, canola can be infected by a number of pathogens ranging from root rots to leaf disease, crown rots and stem infections.

As with all diseases their incidence and severity are dependent on plant susceptibility, presence of the pathogen and favourable climatic conditions. Generally, fungal disease such as blackleg and sclerotinia are more damaging in higher rainfall regions. However, if unseasonably high rainfall occurs in lower rainfall regions, these areas may also experience high disease levels.

Disease control varies for each pathogen though, generally, variety resistance, crop management practices and fungicides are used either in isolation or combination to reduce economic losses. If growers are aware of the disease risks in their area and follow strategic management plans they should be able to adequately control most canola diseases.

Common canola diseases diagnostic key