Agricultural
12 August, 2022
Early epidemic of rust stripe
Growers have been noticing high stripe rust occurrences in emerging crops, even reporting cases of low levels in resistant-moderately resistant (RMR) varieties like Lancer.
Last week, NSW Department of Primary Industries Senior Plant Pathologist, Steven Simpfendorfer provided an update on cereal diseases at the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Grains Research Updates.
Dr Simpfendorfer said across both NSW and Queensland, growers have been noticing high stripe rust occurrences.
“We’re seeing an early epidemic this season...
“There’s significantly more seedling infections this year, including in RMR varieties, but growers who selected more resistant varieties to help manage the disease shouldn’t be too alarmed.
“Growers should be proactive and consider applying an early fungicide to manage seedling infections in later sown wheat crops as all varieties are susceptible at this stage. But once resistant varieties establish more and their adult plant resistance genetics kick in, they’ll start to look after themselves.”
Dr Simpfendorfer said growers should be out in their paddocks assessing crops closely and making informed fungicide decisions to help manage the disease while crops are most vulnerable at early growth stages.
Globally, an estimated five million tonnes of wheat is lost each year to stripe rust alone.
