Canola growers and advisers now have access to up-to-date information on how to better manage blackleg, the most serious disease affecting canola in Australia, following the release of a free publication.

The Australian Blackleg Management Guide has been compiled by Steve Marcroft of Marcroft Grains Pathology and cites methods to reduce the likelihood of serious disease yield losses while keeping down productions costs.

The guide explores the merits of various strategies such as growing resistant varieties, suitable rotations and the use of fungicides, and discusses which approaches are likely to give the best results under varying conditions.

Oilseed industry development officer for Victoria and southern New South Wales, Felicity Pritchard, said good management of blackleg was important for the long-term viability of the canola industry.

“We have already seen the breakdown of resistance to the blackleg fungus in certain canola varieties carrying a single resistance gene,” Ms Pritchard said.

“We have to do all that we can to ensure the remaining resistance genes in our canola varieties continue to work effectively.”

Growers can obtain the Australian Blackleg Management Guide from their Topcrop agronomist, from Steve Marcroft on (03) 5381 2294, from Felicity Pritchard on 0427 600 228, or in New South Wales from their district agronomist.