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195 results found
  • Early detections point to challenging year for stripe rust if favourable weather conditions persist
    Diseases, 29 Nov 2024
    Early detections point to challenging year for stripe rust if favourable weather conditions persist

    Australian wheat producers face significant challenges from stripe rust every season. Detections of stripe rust as early as late May in Tasmania and late June in New South Wales in 2024 suggests increased disease pressure , with the potential for the disease to persist through the summer months, raising concerns about a possible rapid build-up if cooler-than-average temperatures and above-average rainfall remains.

  • Wet springs require proactive Sclerotinia management
    Diseases, 10 Oct 2024
    Wet springs require proactive Sclerotinia management

    In wet spring conditions, western Victorian growers cannot be complacent about managing Sclerotinia in canola

  • Assess Sclerotinia risk to assist crop planning
    Diseases, 09 Oct 2024
    Assess Sclerotinia risk to assist crop planning

    Plant pathologists have found that some pulse species are more susceptible than others to the damaging diseases Sclerotinia white mould and Sclerotinia stem rot. The three species of the pathogen found in pulse crops are Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor and S. trifoliorum. Sclerotinia’s hosts include canola, chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, lupins, vetch, field peas and pasture and broadleaf weeds. Wheat, barley and oats are not hosts. NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development senior plant pathologist Dr Kurt Lindbeck says narrow-leafed lupins and chickpeas are highly susceptible to the disease.

  • Battle with rust swings in growers’ favour
    Diseases, 23 Aug 2024
    Battle with rust swings in growers’ favour

    The secretive virulence genes that rust pathogens need to cause epidemics can now be identified en masse using a new CSIRO technique that provides the foundation for a more-rapid way to keep tabs on changes in rust virulence on wheat cultivars

  • 10 years of discovery and impact celebrated
    Diseases, 07 Aug 2024
    10 years of discovery and impact celebrated

    In April, Curtin University’s Centre for Crop and Disease Management celebrated its 10th anniversary. The celebration underscored the Centre’s role in promoting food security and agricultural sustainability, marking a milestone of excellence and impact in the field. Featured addresses from John Woods, chair GRDC and Professor Harlene Haines, Vice Chancellor of Curtin University, both praised the CCDM’s pioneering research in crop disease management and collaborative approach with industry partners.

  • Fight against cereal rusts enters a new era
    Diseases, 26 Jul 2024
    Fight against cereal rusts enters a new era

    The Australian Cereal Rust Control Program has entered a fifth phase, developing knowledge and technologies to better understand the pathogen and improve rust resistance in cereals. Here is a summation of the new work in progress.

  • FAW’s ability to adapt putting more crops at risk
    Diseases, 16 Jul 2024
    FAW’s ability to adapt putting more crops at risk

    The word ‘challenge’ dominated talk at the National Fall Armyworm (FAW) Research, Development and Extension Symposium in Brisbane in April. It is now in Victoria and it has also confirmed its presence in New Zealand. It is one of the most challenging and confronting pest management issues for growers.

  • Automated detection takes guesswork from fungicide response
    Diseases, 03 Jun 2024
    Automated detection takes guesswork from fungicide response

    BioScout’s next-generation spore traps leverage automated microscopy and machine learning to provide near real-time insights into airborne fungal disease threats. This allows growers to take targeted action and optimise spray programs, including through a newly launched automated surveillance network

  • Disease outlook and managing increased risk
    Diseases, 15 May 2024
    Disease outlook and managing increased risk

    GRDC Research Updates have foreshadowed a heightened risk of disease in 2024, while providing advice on the steps to take to minimise impact on grain yield. Providing a cereal disease outlook, plant pathologist Dr Grant Hollaway from Astute Ag said there was risk of yield losses from diseases including Septoria tritici blotch in wheat, net form of net blotch in barley and rust pathogens in both cereals.

  • Barley grass stripe rust variants characterised by increased virulence
    Diseases, 15 Mar 2024
    Barley grass stripe rust variants characterised by increased virulence

    BGYR (barley grass stripe [yellow] rust), was first detected in Australia in 1998, predominantly affecting wild barley grass weed species. Through comparative greenhouse studies, the Plant Breeding Institute established that the BGYR+ variant has shown increased virulence on several barley varieties at seedling growth stages.

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