New Method of Managing Sclerotinia sclertiorum

Canola (Brassica sp) producers typically manage Sclerotinia sclertiorum, commonly known as white mould or stem rot, through crop rotations or fungicides; however, each method has a drawback. Crop rotations are often only effective if the rotation is relatively long (up to six years), and fungicides offer no protection once the crop shows signs of infection, which makes it difficult for producers to assess the need for a fungicide. Hence, there remains a need for an effective, feasible method of managing stem rot.

The present invention encompasses recombinant antibodies (single chain variable fragments; ScFvs) that recognize stem rot antigens. Initial research results suggest that the genes encoding these ScFvs can be used to confer significant, durable stem rot resistance in canola.