Australia
August 29, 2011

Southern region grain growers are being provided with a useful resource as they endeavour to reduce the incidence of yellow leaf spot.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has developed a new fact sheet, Management to reduce the risk of yellow leaf spot, to support growers in their efforts to combat the disease.

Yellow leaf spot is caused by a fungus, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, which can infect all bread wheat, durum and triticale varieties, although most triticales have good resistance. Yellow leaf spot does not affect oats or green barley plants, although barley stubbles can host the pathogen and generate inoculum for the following season.

According to the fact sheet, farm practices such as minimum tillage, stubble retention, wheat-after-wheat crop sequences and growing susceptible wheat varieties are the main factors that increase the risk of yellow leaf spot.

Weather conditions are an important risk factor. Infection by the fungus is much greater where moist conditions extend over longer periods during the growing season.

Temperatures of 15°C to 28°C together with six to 12 hours of leaf wetness or dew are optimal for infection.

The fact sheet is being mailed to growers in the September-October issue of the Ground Cover magazine.

It is also available for viewing and download via www.grdc.com.au/GRDC-FS-YellowSpotSouth.
 
More information about cereal diseases is also available from the GRDC via www.grdc.com.au/diseaselinks.

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: August 29, 2011