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NEW STRAIN OF BROWN RUST EMERGING AS DISEASE LEVELS SOAR
Date added: 30/04/07 |
Fears are growing that a new race of Brown Rust is emerging as varieties with traditionally high resistance are now showing significant levels of the disease, warns ProCam technical agromomist Nick Myers.
Robigus, in particular, is being hit by both Brown and Yellow Rusts in what is turning out to be an extraordinary growing season in many parts of the country. Rust has also been found in beans and grass crops – unusual this early in the season.
“We’re seeing a lot of Brown Rust in Wheat varieties with known susceptibility like Alchemy, but the real worry is that crops of Robigus, with an established rating of 9 for resistance to the disease are being hit. This is beginning to make us think we’re dealing with something we haven’t seen before,” Nick Myers says.
“The warm winter and untypically high temperatures in April have allowed Brown Rust to really get a hold and to a certain degree it could have slipped under the radar in many parts, as the real worry at T0 was Septoria. To stat with conditions favoured Yellow Rust and all attention was focused on bringing that under control – especially in Robigus. But latterly Brown Rust has come to the fore..”
T1 fungicides have now generally been applied the rusts are being generally well controlled. Crops will need close monitoring as the T2 timing rapidly approaches. Farmers will need to talk to their agronomists and factor in the emerging and increasing threat from Rusts, he says. The need to get triazole mixes right for T2 applications is absolutely essential.
“It’s unusual to see both diseases so well established as they both favour different conditions, but this year seems to have provided enough of everything, for both to be a real problem. Robigus has suffered a ‘double whammy’ this year with high levels of both Brown and Yellow Rusts. If we are dealing with a new strain of Brown Rust, this is something growers across the country need to be alert to.”
Although the threat from Septoria has diminished in recent weeks, due to the dry conditions, growers must keep on their toes with regard to T2 sprays, as there are still potentially high levels in crops that could emerge with any degree of wet weather.
PRM145
For further information please contact Nick Myers, ProCam Ltd., Royston, Herts. Telephone: 01763 261592
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