Dr. Debra McLaren

Retired - Research Scientist, Crop Production Pathology

Development of improved disease management strategies for the production of pulse and oilseed crops

Management of plant disease risk in diversified cropping systems

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Brandon, Manitoba

Current research and/or projects

Molecular diagnostic procedures for the rapid, specific and sensitive detection of root rot pathogens in symptomatic field pea, dry bean and soybean roots.
Determine the frequency and diversity of root rot pathogens in Canadian soybean crops.
Identification of the pathotypes of Phytophthora sojae and their distribution in western Canadian soybean crops.
Determine the impact of crop type and crop sequence on soybean root diseases.
Determine whether pathogen quantification in soil can predict root rot incidence of field pea and severity in the field
Assessment of canola diseases: surveillance and epidemiology – staying ahead of Important canola issues such as clubroot.
Develop agronomic management packages and diverse cropping sequences/ systems that reduce the impact of root diseases and improve net production returns.

Research and/or project statements

To increase productivity and competitiveness of agricultural production, this research program supports the Agro-Ecosystem Resilience sector science strategy through the development of new means to address management challenges from current and emerging plant pathogens.

Professional activities / interests

Pulse crop pathology (field pea, dry bean)
Oilseed pathology (soybean, canola)
Crop production systems
Integrated pest management
Sustainable agriculture

Education and awards

Ph.D. University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB

Post Doctoral Fellowship. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Beaverlodge, AB

Achievements in Plant Disease Management Award. Pulse Crop Research Team. 2016. Canadian Phytopathological Society.

Gold Harvest Award for Innovation, Collaboration and Service Excellence. 2017. Clubroot Risk Mitigation Initiative Team.

Key publications

Henriquez, M.A., McLaren, D.L., Conner, R.L., Hwang, S.F., Chang, K.F., Strelkov, S.E., Gossen, B.D., Yu, K., Xue, A., Marchand, G., Henderson, T.L., Kerley, T.J., and Penner, W.C. 2016. Phytophthora stem and root rot of soybean in Manitoba: Isolation and race characterization. Poster AP17, Proc. 10th Can Pulse Res. Workshop, Winnipeg, MB, Oct. 27 28, 2016. p. 52.
2016 - View publication details
McLaren, D.L., Platford, R.G., Kubinec, A.M., Lindquist, N., Davies, H., Bisht, V., Bajracharya, P., Bargen, E., Brackenreed, A., Buss, T., Chomokovski, D., Farooq, A., Hausermann, D.J., Henderson, T.L., Jersak, S., Kaskiw, E., Kaskiw, L., Kristjanson, I., Lange, D., McCracken, M., Mitchell, L., McLennan, D., Picard, R., and Pradhan, M. (2016). "Survey of canola diseases in Manitoba in 2015.", Canadian Plant Disease Survey, 96.
2016 - View publication details
Gossen, B.D., Chatterton, S., Foroud, N., Esmaeili Taheri, A., and McLaren, D.L. 2016. Metagenomic analysis of oomycete communities in rhizosphere soil from field pea on the Canadian prairies using Illumina Miseq. Phytopathology 106 (S4): 160.
2016 - View publication details
Gossen, B.D., Conner, R.L., Chang, K.F., Pasche, J.S., McLaren, D.L., Henriquez, M.A., Chatterton, S., Hwang, S.F. (2016). Identifying and managing root rot of pulses on the northern great plains. Plant Disease, [online] 100(10), 1965-1978. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-16-0184-FE
2016 - View publication details
A. Esmaeili Taheri, S. Chatterton, N.A. Foroud, B.D. Gossen and D.L. McLaren. Metagenomic analysis of oomycete communities in rhizosphere soil from field pea on the Canadian prairies using Illumina Miseq. Annual Meeting of the American Phytopathology Society, Tampa FL, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2016. (poster presentation)
2016 - View publication details
Bing, D.J., Beauchesne, D., McLaren, D., Vera, C. (2016). AAC Radius field pea. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 97(1), 196-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2016-0174
2016 - View publication details
Grant, C.A., O'Donovan, J.T., Blackshaw, R.E., Harker, K.N., Johnson, E.N., Gan, Y., Lafond, G.P., May, W.E., Turkington, T.K., Lupwayi, N.Z., McLaren, D.L., Zebarth, B., Khakbazan, M., St. Luce, M., Ramnarine, R. (2016). Residual effects of preceding crops and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and crop and soil N dynamics of spring wheat and canola in varying environments on the Canadian prairies. Field Crops Research, [online] 192 86-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2016.04.019
2016 - View publication details
St. Luce, M., Grant, C.A., Ziadi, N., Zebarth, B.J., O'Donovan, J.T., Blackshaw, R.E., Harker, K.N., Johnson, E.N., Gan, Y., Lafond, G.P., May, W.E., Malhi, S.S., Turkington, T.K., Lupwayi, N.Z., McLaren, D.L. (2016). Preceding crops and nitrogen fertilization influence soil nitrogen cycling in no-till canola and wheat cropping systems. Field Crops Research, [online] 191 20-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2016.02.014
2016 - View publication details
Chatterton, S., Balasubramanian, P.M., Erickson, R.S., Hou, A., McLaren, D.L., Henriquez, M.A., Conner, R.L. (2016). Identification of bacterial pathogens and races of Pseudomonas syringae pv. Phaseolicola from dry bean fields in Western Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 38(1), 41-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2016.1141800
2016 - View publication details
McLaren, D.L., Henriquez, M.A., Conner, R.L., Chang, K.F., Henderson, T.L., Penner, W.C., and Kerley, T.J. (2015). "Soybean root rot and Phytophthora rot in Manitoba in 2014.", Canadian Plant Disease Survey, 95, pp. 180-181.
2015 - View publication details
Nyandoro, R.., Chang, K.F., Hwang, S.F., Ahmed, H.U., Strelkov, S.E., Turnbull, G.D., Harding, M.W., and McLaren, D.L. (2015). "The occurrence of soybean root rot in southern Alberta, Canada in 2014.", Canadian Plant Disease Survey, 95, pp. 182-184.
2015 - View publication details
Taheri, A.E., Safarieskandari, S., Chatterton, S., Foroud, N.A., Gossen, B.D., and McLaren, D.L. (2015). "Pathogenic fungi associated with root rot of field pea on the Canadian prairies.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 37, pp. 249. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
Henriquez, M.A., McLaren, D.L., Conner, R.L., Balasubramanian, P.M., Chang, K.F., Hwang, S.F., Strelkov, S.E., Gossen, B.D., and Penner, W.C. (2015). "Soybean root rot and phytophthora rot in Manitoba, Canada.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 37, pp. 247. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details
McLaren, D.L., Platford, R.G., Kubinec, A.M., Derksen, H., Bisht, V., Bargen, E., Brackenreed, A., Buss, T., Chomokovski, D., Farooq, A., Hausermann, D.J., Henderson, T.L., Jersak, S., Kaskiw, E., Kaskiw, L., Kristjanson, I., Lange, D., McCracken, M., and Picard, R. (2015). "Survey of canola diseases in Manitoba in 2014.", Canadian Plant Disease Survey, 95, pp. 164-167.
2015 - View publication details
Henriquez, M.A., McLaren, D.L., Conner, R.L., Hall, B., Penner, W.C., and Kerley, T.J. (2015). "Root diseases of field bean in western Ontario in 2014.", Canadian Plant Disease Survey, 95, pp. 153-154.
2015 - View publication details
Esmaeili Taheri, A., Chatterton, S., Foroud, N.A., Gossen, B.D., and McLaren, D.L. (2015). "Identity and host specificity of root rot pathogens colonizing standing pea stubble from the Canadian Prairies.", 36th Annual Meeting of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, November 16-18, 2015.
2015 - View publication details
McLaren, D.L., Hausermann, D.J., Henriquez, M.A., Chang, K.F., and Kerley, T.J. (2015). "Field pea diseases in Manitoba in 2014.", Canadian Plant Disease Survey, 95, pp. 173-175.
2015 - View publication details
Mohr, R.M., Nelson, A.G., Tomasiewicz, D.J., McLaren, D.L., Monreal, M.A., Irvine, R.B., Khakbazan, M., Moulin, A.P., Derksen, D.A., and Volkmar, K.M. (2015). "Nutrient Availability Following a 14-year Irrigated Potato Rotation Study in Manitoba.", 2015 Canadian Land Reclamation Association/Manitoba Soil Science Society Joint Meeting, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, June 15-18, 2015. (Poster)
2015 - View publication details
Henriquez, M.A., McLaren, D.L., Conner, R.L., Penner, W.C., and Kerley, T.J. (2015). "Diseases of field bean in Manitoba in 2014.", Canadian Plant Disease Survey, 95, pp. 151-152.
2015 - View publication details
Chang, K.F., Hwang, S.F., Ahmed, H.U., Zhou, Q-X., Strelkov, S.E., Conner, R.L., McLaren, D.L., Gossen, B.D., and Turnbull, G.D. (2015). "Evaluation of soybean cultivars against root rot caused by Fusarium avenaceum and Rhizoctonia solani under low and high salinity.", Phytopathology. (Abstract)
2015 - View publication details