For general inquiries on AAFC Research Program for Foreigners, contact

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  Graduate students / étudiants des cycles supérieurs:
  

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  Visiting Scientist from a university or a research organisation/Chercheur visiteur provenant d’une université ou d’un organisme de recherche. YES
  

Website : http://www.agr.gc.ca/science

Phone/Téléphone : 604 796-1735

Other AAFC scientists/Autres chercheurs d’AAC : D.E. Hunt, C.G. Kowalenko

University partners/Partenaires universitaires : Prof Maja Kzric

Industry partners/Partenaires industriels :

Other OMAFRA Dr. Bonnie Bell

AAFC Research at Agassiz BC, in conjunction with Dairy farmers of Canada and Agro-environmental Services Branch, are conducting research intended to mitigate emissions from land application of nitrogen in the form of manure and commercial fertilizer to reduce the environmental and carbon foot prints of current livestock farming systems of relevance to BC and other regions of Canada. In this work we are also endeavouring to improve the overall farm productivity and efficiency which includes for example consideration of other nutrients especially P which must not be overused in the name of better N efficiency. The gaol of this project is also to test and improve the DNDC and DAYCENT Models in collaboration with the research group in Ottawa, especially for high end intensities which are becoming more common as land resources become more scarce.

This position will acquaint the visitor with soil N modelling and development of real time management tools and predictive tools. The unique aspect of this on-line model is its attributes as a learning tool for experts and practioners alike meaning that both the model and the users will be simultaneously involved in the learning.

• 
  Graduate students / étudiants des cycles supérieurs:
  

• 
  Visiting Scientist from a university or a research organisation/Chercheur visiteur provenant d’une université ou d’un organisme de recherche. YES
  

Website : http://www.agr.gc.ca/science

Agassiz, British Columbia

Phone/Téléphone : 604 796-1735

Other AAFC scientists/Autres chercheurs d’AAC : D.E. Hunt, C.G. Kowalenko

University partners/Partenaires universitaires : Prof Maja Kzric

Industry partners/Partenaires industriels :

Other OMAFRA Dr. Bonnie Bell

AAFC in conjunction with BCMA and a producer organization (Pacific Field Corn Association) are developing an on-line tool for real-time tracking of N in on-farm fields growing corn, grass and other crops. The model which powers this tool is based on NLEAP which was developed in Fort Collins by USDA-ARC primarily for grain farms in semiarid regions but has been tested fairly widely. The current project involves doing on-farm sampling to validate the model for local conditions, crop growth, crop N uptake, soil water, and soil N. Inputs include soil parameters, farm management practices and daily weather. The objective of the proposed project is to identify subroutines that need to be upgraded and to develop new algorithms to improve model function. A second goal is to develop predictive functions based on historical weather data with predictions being automatically updated with new weather data each day. A key area will be to validate and upgrade the N₂O emission sub-model using algorithms from DNDC and DAYCENT.

This position will acquaint the visitor with soil N modelling and development of real time management tools and predictive tools. The unique aspect of this on-line model is its attributes as a learning tool for experts and practioners alike meaning that both the model and the users will be simultaneously involved in the learning.

• 
  Graduate students / étudiants des cycles supérieurs:
  

• 
  - Ph.D.
  

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  Visiting Scientist from a university or a research organisation
  

Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, AAFC (3 months); and

Lethbridge Research Centre, AAFC (9 months)

Website : http://www.agr.gc.ca/science

Agassiz, British Columbia;

Lethbridge, Alberta

Phone/Téléphone : 604-796-1710

Other AAFC scientists/Autres chercheurs d’AAC : Frances Leggett

University partners/Partenaires universitaires :

Industry partners/Partenaires industriels :

Of the entompathogenic fungi, the genus Metarhizium is one of the most widely developed as a biological control

product for agricultural insect pests. Historically, the observation of natural outbreaks of Metarhizium infecting

wireworms has occasionally enticed a few researchers to try the fungus for controlling this devastating pest. In recent

years, research activities involving Metarhizium as wireworm control have gained some momentum and some success,

not only with inundative applications for wireworm control in the field, but also in more basic areas of research including

ecology, pathogenesis and fungal genetics. It has become accepted that the increased complexity of using

microorganisms as pest control products necessitates the need for more basic studies on the interrelationship between

pathogen and pest. A greater understanding of this interrelationship will lead to improved targeting of the pest with the

pathogen and enable the anticipation of environmental factors on pesticide efficacy so that it might be maximized.

in recent years due to our success in developing antibody markers for the fungus. We will combine the use of

polyclonal antibodies to bind Metarhizium on the wireworm cuticle and inside the body cavity with scanning electron

microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy to create high resolution images for histopathological examination

at all stages of infection. We will then apply our imaging technique to three areas of research: i) the effect of

environmental factors on pathogenesis; iii) the host-pathogen ecology; and iii) use as a detection tool to gage the

success of Metarhizium field applications. We will carry out our research using Metarhizium LRC112, a biotype

discovered by AAFC researchers and which is the most virulent of any other tested Metarhizium biotype against

wireworms worldwide.
Value of the Opportunity (issue, results, outcomes)/Valeur ajoutée de l’opportunité (problème, résultats, retombées):

The development and use of our antibody/microscopy technique as a detection tool for field studies and as an aid to understand environmental factors affecting pathogenesis will directly enhanced our knowledge of when and how to use Metarhizium as a biological control for wireworms. Extending beyond our proposed project, our findings will contribute to an overarching narrative on the use of entomopathogens as biological controls of insect pests.

microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The candidate will gain knowledge of a novel area of detection and analysis of entomopathogenic fungi, and participate as co-author on research publications arising from the work.

-dedication to solving technical challenges to achieve research goals

-good knowledge of entomology and/or microbiology

-experience with microscopy

-good research skills and demonstrable scientific achievements

-knowledge of experimental design and analysis