Colonization of cereal and noncereal crop residues by Fusarium spp. in southeast Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedIn July of 2000 and 2001, residues of wheat, barley, oat, canola, flax, lentil and pea crops were sampled from over 300 fields in southeast Saskatchewan. The non-cereal crops sampled had been preceded by a cereal crop, whereas the cereal crops sampled had been preceded in most cases by a non-cereal crop the previous year, and by another cereal crop one to three years previously. Residues were surface-disinfested and plated on nutrient agar for fungal identification. The most commonly isolated Fusarium species was F. avenaceum. Among those at lower levels were F. acuminatum, F. equiseti, F. culmorum and F. graminearum. Based on total fungal isolations, the relative percent isolation of most Fusarium spp. was similar for all residue types. However, the actual percent isolation of Fusarium spp. from canola residues was lower than from the other residue types. F. avenaceum was found at the highest levels in lentil, pea and flax residues. All Fusarium spp. found in/on residues were also previously isolated from wheat and barley heads affected by Fusarium head blight (FHB) in Saskatchewan, although at different relative frequencies. Colonization of canola, flax, lentil and pea residues by Fusarium spp. commonly associated with FHB and root rot of cereals suggests that rotations with these non-cereal crops might not be an effective control strategy against cereal diseases caused by Fusarium spp. in Saskatchewan. This is the first report of isolation of F. graminearum from residues of the most commonly-grown non-cereal crops in western Canada

Fusarium head blight in wheat and barley in Saskatchewan (1998 and 1999)

Non-Peer Reviewe

Establishment of short rotation forage crops

Non-Peer ReviewedForages could provide annual crop producers with a cash hay crop as a viable option in rotation. However, traditional perennial forage crop species that are difficult to establish and left in for many years are not the best option for short rotations of forage (1-3 years) and annual crops. Short-lived grass species that establish quickly and produce more forage for one to three years would provide traditional crop producers with a cash crop that would fit in their crop rotation system. New annual crops have not been tested as companion crops for establishment of grasses with high seedling vigour. The objective of the project is to determine the establishment success (risk) and first year production of fast-establishing forage grasses as affected by soil zone, companion crop, and legume associate

Patients' inability to perform a preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise test or demonstrate an anaerobic threshold is associated with inferior outcomes after major colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Surgical patients with poor functional capacity, determined by oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold (AT) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), experience longer hospital stays and worse short- and medium-term survival. However, previous studies excluded patients who were unable to perform a CPET or who failed to demonstrate an AT. We hypothesized that such patients are at risk of inferior outcomes after elective surgery. METHODS: All patients undergoing major colorectal surgery attempted CPET to assist in the planning of care. Patients were stratified by their test results into Fit (AT ≥ 11.0 ml O2 kg(-1) min(-1)), Unfit (AT < 11.0 ml O2 kg(-1) min(-1)), or Unable to CPET groups (failed to pedal or demonstrate an AT). For each group, we determined hospital stay and mortality. RESULTS: Between March 2009 and April 2010, 269 consecutive patients were screened, and proceeded to bowel resection. Median hospital stay was 8 days (IQR 5.1-13.4) and there were 44 deaths (16%) at 2 yr; 26 (9.7%) patients were categorized as Unable to CPET, 69 (25.7%) Unfit and 174 (64.7%) Fit. There were statistically significant differences between the three groups in hospital stay [median (IQR) 14.0 (10.5-23.8) vs 9.9 (5.5-15) vs 7.1 (4.9-10.8) days, P < 0.01] and mortality at 2 yr [11/26 (42%) vs 14/69 (20%) vs 19/174 (11%), respectively (P < 0.01)] although the differences between Unable and Unfit were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' inability to perform CPET is associated with inferior outcomes after major colorectal surgery. Future studies evaluating CPET in risk assessment for major surgery should report outcomes for this subgroup