Direct evidence of surface infestation of seeds and tubers by Plasmodiophora brassicae and quantification of spore loads

Using quantitative PCR, DNA of Plasmodiophora brassicae, the causal agent of clubroot, was detected and quantified on canola, pea and wheat seeds, as well as on potato tubers, all harvested from clubroot-infested fields in Alberta, Canada. Quantifiable levels of infestation were found on seven of the 46 samples analysed, and ranged from <1·0 × 103 to 3·4 × 104 resting spores per 10 g seeds; the vast majority (80–100%) of resting spores on these samples were viable, as determined by Evan’s blue vital staining. However, the levels of infestation found were generally lower than that required to cause consistent clubroot symptoms in greenhouse plant bioassays. While the occurrence of P. brassicae resting spores on seeds and tubers harvested from clubroot-infested fields suggests that seedborne dissemination of this pathogen is possible, practices such as commercial seed cleaning may be sufficient to effectively mitigate this risk.