|
|
|
|
Wheat varieties more susceptible to leaf rust in 2015
|
|
Many common wheat varieties have this year recorded a change in their susceptibility ratings for leaf rust following the detection of an exotic strain of the disease in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales last year.
Senior Plant Pathologist at the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources Grant Hollaway said growers across south eastern Australia needed to be aware that the leaf rust ratings of many of their current varieties had changed. The majority of cultivars are now one rating more susceptible than before, however, several varieties, including Axe, Beaufort, Corack, Derrimut, Mace, SQP Revenue, and Wallup, are now two or more rating levels more susceptible.
|
|
|
“The new ratings are marked as provisional this year as we only have one season of data. It is likely however that this new leaf rust will be dominant in SA, Victoria and NSW during the coming years so growers need to be more vigilant with leaf rust control,” he said.
“Growers must have a plan to manage rusts in susceptible varieties, as rust can quickly build up if suitable conditions occur.”
Dr Hollaway said growers needed to consult a current annual Cereal Variety Disease Guide to assess the susceptibility ratings of their varieties, and if possible, avoid growing susceptible varieties to reduce pressure from rust and the chance of yield loss.
“Resistant varieties make rust control easier, reduce inoculum carry-over from one season to the next, and decrease the chance of resistance breakdown,” he said. “To control rust, remove volunteer cereals by late-March, avoid rust susceptible varieties, use fungicides on seed or fertiliser at sowing, and watch crops with a view to timely fungicide application if needed.”
All current Cereal Variety Disease Guides are available online through the Rust Bust website by clicking here.
Back to top
|
|
Long season wheats pose stem rust risk
|
|
The risks of developing stem rust in longer season winter wheat crops are being highlighted as South Australian, Victorian and New South Wales wheat growers begin to prepare for the 2015 growing season.
Plant pathologist at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) Dr Hugh Wallwork said growers needed to be aware of the susceptibility ratings of the long-season wheats and to ensure they plan appropriately to manage any rust outbreaks.
“Some of these longer season winter wheats are attractive for their high yield and are grown in the parts of SA, Vic and NSW that have longer and cooler seasons, but the problem is that some of them have susceptible or very susceptible ratings to stem rust,” he said.
“The problem is made worse by a greatly shortened break between crops over summer in the long season cropping areas. Rust needs a green living host, often called the green bridge, to survive between the seasons. Normally this is in the form of volunteer cereals growing as weeds, however, in the areas where these long season wheats are grown, the natural summer break between crops is greatly reduced. This therefore requires greater monitoring and rust management planning to prepare for any potential outbreaks.
|
|
“Stem rust is the most difficult of the three types of rust to control with fungicide as it is difficult for foliar fungicides to penetrate the canopy and protect the stem.”
Dr Wallwork advised that growers choosing a long-season wheat obtain information on that variety’s susceptibility rating from the breeding company or their local advisor before seeding and ensure they have an effective stem rust monitoring plan in place.
“There are other long-season wheat varieties available that have a higher stem rust resistance rating, including Bolac, Forrest, EGA-Wedgetail, Manning and SQP Revenue, and we recommend that growers should, if possible, look to growing these or others with stem rust resistance in the next season,” he said.
Back to top
|
|
|
Cereal Variety Disease Guides available online now
|
|
Choosing the right variety can make a massive difference in terms of yield, quality, and farm management techniques. When choosing a variety, the Australian Cereal Rust Control Program which manages the Rust Bust campaign, recommends choosing a resistant variety. The level of resistance varies between regions depending on weather and seasonal conditions. If a variety does not meet the minimum resistance level, then additional rust control will be needed.
The following table indicates the suggested minimum levels of resistance required for wheat:
| Region |
Stem |
Stripe |
Leaf |
| Northern (Qld and northern NSW) |
MR-MS |
MR-MS |
MS |
| Southern (southern NSW, Vic and SA) |
|
|
|
| Conventional spring wheats |
MS |
MR-MS |
MS |
| Long season and early sown (before mid-April) wheats |
MR-MS |
MR-MS |
MS |
| Western (WA) |
MS |
MS |
MS |
For more information on varieties suitable to your region, check your local Cereal Variety Disease Guide.
Back to top
|
|
VIDEO: What is the green bridge and what do you need to do about it?
|
|
|
In this first in a series of Rust Bust videos, Professor Robert Park, Director of the Australian Cereal Rust Control Program, talks about the green bridge, and why it is so important for farmers to remove it before seeding.
|
|
Carry rust ID tools in your pocket with new Rust Bust banner pen
|
|
The Rust Bust team has recently developed a banner pen. The banner features key rust messages including ID pictures of stem, stripe and leaf rust and the Rust Bust checklist. The pens have been distributed at recent GRDC updates.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
