Australia
April 5, 2019

Australian grain growers are advised to prepare and implement an integrated disease management strategy in 2019 to protect their crops and counter the increasing threat of fungicide resistance.

Fungicide resistance is a significant and costly nation-wide issue for the grains industry. Several cases of fungicide resistance and reduced sensitivity to fungicide – in which resistance does not reach the level of field failure of a fungicide application – have now been recorded. 

CCDM Fungicide Resistance Group leader, Fran Lopez-Ruiz, features in a new GRDC video about the status of fungicide resistance across Australia. Photo: Melissa Williams.
 

Pivotal in combating the scourge of fungicide resistance and prolonging the life of available chemistries is the employment of a combination of tactics which reduce the reliance on fungicides for disease control.

Researchers at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) – a national research centre co-supported by Curtin University and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) – are therefore encouraging growers to adopt a multi-pronged disease management strategy this year.

CCDM Fungicide Resistance Group leader, Fran Lopez-Ruiz, who features in a new GRDC video about the status of fungicide resistance (http://bit.ly/2HB7vM0), says a key element of an integrated management strategy is the use of crop varieties with high disease resistance ratings.

“In my view, genetic resistance is the most important component. Growers are advised to choose varieties with high levels of resistance to diseases,” Dr Lopez-Ruiz says.

Disease resistance ratings are available via the GRDC’s National Variety Trials website, www.nvtonline.com.au.   

“Good rotation of our crops is another tool which helps to create a dynamic environment within our farming systems, making it hard for disease to adapt,” Dr Lopez-Ruiz says.

The strategic use of fungicides is also important in reducing the risk of pathogens developing resistance and prolonging the lifespan of the limited chemistries available. 

“If you use the same chemical season after season you are asking for trouble and this applies to any other disease management strategy that is overused,” Dr Lopez-Ruiz says. "We need to rotate chemicals with different modes of action and also mix those different modes of action to create a very dynamic environment.”

The CCDM receives more than 1000 crop samples per year for fungicide resistance testing, and growers and advisers should contact the CCDM’s Fungicide Resistance Group at frg@curtin.edu.au if they suspect fungicide ineffectiveness this year.

Dr Lopez-Ruiz says that by working with growers to get a clearer idea of what is happening in the paddock, CCDM researchers can assist the grains industry in making more informed decisions around strategic chemical use. 

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

Published: April 5, 2019