Brandon University is proud to announce that Dr. Bryan Cassone has been awarded the Research Manitoba Innovation Proof-of-Concept Grant for his pioneering project on soybean disease diagnostics. Dr. Cassone, alongside co-investigators Dr. Baljeet Singh from Assiniboine College and Dr. Chris LeMoine from BU, is developing an innovative molecular-based tool for the rapid and accurate detection of root and stem diseases in soybean crops.
Soybean is one of the most economically significant crops in Manitoba, with 1.3 million acres seeded in 2024. However, conventional disease detection methods are often unreliable and impractical for large-scale implementation. This new diagnostic innovation will provide farmers with an accurate, cost-effective, and rapid means of detecting four of the most common and economically damaging root and stem pathogens of soybean. The project aims to optimize the tool for widespread commercial use in Manitoba and other major soybean-growing regions.
“This funding from Research Manitoba will enable our research team to commercially ready an innovative molecular-based diagnostic tool for rapid, economical, and accurate detection of the most important soybean root and stem diseases in the province,” said Dr. Cassone. “This technology will assist in disease surveillance programs and allow producers to make informed management decisions on a yearly basis.”
The research team has outlined three key objectives to advance the commercialization of the diagnostic tool:
- Validate the utility of the diagnostic tool across multiple growing seasons.
- Assess the tool’s ability to detect diseases early in the growing season before symptoms develop.
- Evaluate the tool’s capability to detect pathogens in soybean seeds.
Once these objectives are achieved, the tool will be ready for commercialization, significantly reducing the application of costly and unnecessary pesticides while improving crop yield and quality.
“I sincerely appreciate the invaluable collaboration and dedication of our team for this project,” said Dr. Singh. “Research grants are highly competitive, and securing this funding is a testament to the significance of our work. I am grateful to Research Manitoba for granting this opportunity, and I look forward to making meaningful research contributions to this project.”
Dr. LeMoine emphasized the real-world impact of this research: “This funding will enable us to catalyze the development of an accurate and economical diagnostic tool for common soybean diseases in the region. By taking our research out of the lab and into the field, we hope that this tool can be broadly used for disease surveillance and to inform pathogen mitigation strategies.”
Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies at BU, celebrated the collaboration behind this project: “This research exemplifies the power of local partnerships. By bringing together expertise from both Brandon University and Assiniboine College, we are strengthening Manitoba’s agricultural research landscape. The support from Research Manitoba highlights the importance of fostering homegrown innovation, and I am thrilled to see this collaborative effort drive real solutions for producers in our region.”
Brandon University and Assiniboine College extend their gratitude to Research Manitoba for supporting this crucial agricultural research initiative. The project stands to benefit soybean producers and the broader agricultural sector by providing a powerful tool for disease prevention and management.
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