Characterising soil borne disease risk in the eastern wheat belt of Western Australia and the national significance of major diseases

Publication Date

27-2-2018

Series Number

DAV00128, DAS00137, DAS00125, DAN00175, BWD000025 and DAW00256

Publisher

Grains Research and Development Corporation

Abstract

  • Pathogens of important diseases of cereals frequently detected in a recent survey of the eastern wheat belt of Western Australia in 2017 included:
    • Crown rot (62% of samples tested)
    • Root lesion nematodes (79% of samples tested)
    • Rhizoctonia root rot (49% of samples tested)
  • The impact of root diseases can be difficult to recognise and targeted testing of paddocks can identify situations of increasing or high risk. While pathogen levels detected by PREDICTA® B are an important indicator of potential disease risk, seasonal conditions, crop choice and management practices are also important factors in determining how much disease actually develops.
  • The lack of profitable non-cereal rotation options, and the use of stubble retention to conserve moisture, can make it difficult to manage root diseases, particularly crown rot.
  • While reducing inoculum levels is desirable, research in this region may need to include exploring improved non-host rotational crops and selecting well adapted cereal varieties that can perform in the presence of root disease, combined with cropping practices that reduce moisture and heat stress during grain fill.
  • To identify and quantify the pathogens of soil borne diseases present in cropping paddocks in Western Australia’s eastern wheat belt (Kwinana East).
  • Review data on the national impact of the major diseases and implications for the eastern wheat belt.

Disciplines

Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Biosecurity

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