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Western Australian research hones powdery mildew fungicide advice
Australia
May 2, 2014
Research is ensuring that Western Australian growers can confidently choose the most effective fungicides for powdery mildew, one of the State’s major diseases of barley.
In recent years the disease has developed resistance to older triazole (DMI) fungicides and evolved virulence on barley cultivars with levels of resistance.
However, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) funded research at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) at Curtin University has produced a diagnostic method that researchers can use to accurately identify fungicide compounds that will still work against different strains of powdery mildew.
 CCDM researcher Fran Lopez-Ruiz (pictured) said work by PhD student Madeline Tucker had helped to achieve the method which enabled researchers to provide accurate regionally-specific advice to help growers choose effective fungicide options.
“This will help reduce the amount of barley powdery mildew pathogens present in the environment and the chance of new mutations occurring,” he said.
Dr Lopez-Ruiz said an important goal of CCDM powdery mildew research was to predict the likely evolution of the disease in WA and how potential new strains would affect the efficacy of specific fungicide compounds.
“The work could help slow the spread of powdery mildew fungicide resistance in barley and prolong the useful life of the remaining chemicals still effective against the disease,” he said.
Dr Lopez-Ruiz said growers should choose varieties less susceptible to powdery mildew, to minimise losses.
“If 2014 is wet, growers should monitor all barley crops for changes in mildew response,” he said.
“Growers in coastal and southern regions with a history of mildew should also use suitable seed dressings and foliar applications if growing more susceptible varieties.
“All fungicides, especially strobilurin products, are best used prior to significant disease levels appearing in crops.
“It is important to rotate fungicide modes of action and/or active ingredients in a group and use fungicides as a protectant, rather than as a curative.”
Where powdery mildew occurs, samples should be sent to the CCDM for testing (contact Simon Ellwood at srellwood@gmail.com).
More information about controlling barley powdery mildew is available in the GRDC Barley Powdery Mildew Fact Sheet at www.grdc.com.au/GRDC-FS-BarleyPowderyMildew or by searching barley powdery mildew on the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) website www.agric.wa.gov.au.
More information about GRDC funded research into powdery mildew and other fungal diseases is contained in a GRDC Cereal Foliar Fungal Diseases Supplement.
The supplement will be included in the May-June edition of Ground Cover magazine, to be posted to growers in early May, and is available at www.grdc.com.au/GCS110.
To subscribe to Ground Cover visit www.grdc.com.au/groundcover.
More solutions from: GRDC (Grains Research & Development Corporation)
Website: http://www.grdc.com.au Published: May 2, 2014 |
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