Australia
March 30, 2007
Key points:
- Growers should choose the
most rust resistant wheat varieties for their region
- Monitor for rust through
the season and follow through with fungicide applications if
required
Growers should be choosing the
most rust resistant wheat varieties suitable for their region as
part of their cereal rust management plan, according to
Victorian Department of
Primary Industries (DPI) senior plant pathologist Dr Grant
Hollaway.
Dr Hollaway said growers should
use the DPI's Cereal Disease Guide 2007 when selecting wheat
varieties for their region. The guide is available at
www.dpi.vic.gov.au -
type Cereal Disease Guide 2007 in the search box.
"Careful variety selection is
integral to a growers rust management plan," he said. "The
cereal disease guide will assist with selecting varieties with
good rust resistance. Once varieties are chosen, growers should
follow their cereal rust management plan throughout the year."
Dr Hollaway said the war
against cereal rust was ongoing, despite Victorian growers
having a respite from the problem last year due to dry
conditions.
"Just because we didn't see any
stripe rust last season, that doesn't mean we won't see it this
year," he said. "We didn't see any stripe rust during 2002, but
in 2003 it was widespread in Victoria. This could happen again
in 2007."
Dr Hollaway said if seed
dressings were a part of a grower's cereal rust strategy,
in-crop monitoring would assist growers with decisions about
fungicide applications later in the year.
"Whether or not you use seed
dressing treatments, growers will still need to monitor crops
throughout the seasons, and apply fungicides as required later
on in the year," he said. "If growers do not use seed dressings,
they should be prepared for an application of fungicides earlier
in the season."
Dr Hollaway reminded growers
that close crop monitoring would assist with early detection and
management of cereal rusts.
"Growers need to be vigilant
with monitoring cereal rusts on farm," he said. "Although we
didn't have a rust problem last year, we need to be managing the
rust problem this year and be prepared for a possible spring
rust epidemic."
The fight against cereal rust
is a major priority for the grains industry, and is supported by
growers and the Australian Government through the
Grains Research and Development
Corporation (GRDC).
Growers can access detailed
information about rust management by visiting
www.grdc.com.au/rustlinks.pdf [PDF 123KB] . |
