View the latest Blackspot Manager forecast for Victoria.
Field Pea Blackspot Manager is a forecasting model for ascochyta blight (synonym: blackspot) of field peas. It can be used by agronomists and growers to help identify the best balance between early sowing and potential yield loss from ascochyta blight, or to inform a fungicide plan where growers are sowing at a time with medium or high blackspot risk. The forecasts are best used in an integrated disease management strategy which should incorporate varietal resistance, paddock rotations, reliable agronomy practices (sowing time, interrow sowing, and nutrition), mixing and rotating fungicide groups, and strategic fungicide applications. Without a solid strategy, grain yield losses of greater than 90% may be experienced, depending on the disease if conducive disease conditions occur.
SMS Alerts
Sign up to the free SMS blackspot alert service and add your local weather station. Text ‘Blackspot’ with your name and nearest weather station or location to 0475 959 932 or email [email protected]
Example of Blackspot Manager SMS alert
Windborne Ascochyta spores are released from infected stubble early in autumn, with timing depending on summer and autumn rain events. Disease can lead to significant crop losses when the emergence of sown field peas coincides with spore release. Blackspot Manager calculates when the majority of blackspot spores (approx. 60%) have been released from field pea stubble and risk of new infection is reduced to a low level.
It is important to subscribe to your local weather station as rainfall is highly variable. The predictions use the local rainfall to predict the maturity and release of spores. These forecasts are updated based on recent rain events of at least 3.5 mm which have been shown to reduce the risk of blackspot. Growers can decide to delay sowing field peas until their region is designated as a low risk for blackspot, or if sowing at a high-risk time, they can plan a foliar fungicide program to reduce the severity of blackspot in their crops.
Blackspot Manager is produced by the Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). Predictions are made for field pea crops in Victoria through the GRDC funded ‘Disease epidemiology, modelling and delivery of management decision support tools’ project in collaboration with Agriculture Victoria Scientists. Forecasts are updated weekly from April through June, each year.
Further information links
- To find out more on Blackspot management and the pathogen visit the blackspot of field pea section in the Identification and management of Field Crop Diseases in Victoria manual.
- The Pulse Australia Field pea guide provides Variety Management Packages which should be consulted for up-to-date, specific variety information and resistance ratings.
- Stay up to date with the disease ratings with the Victorian Pulse Disease Guide.
Acknowledgements
Blackspot Manager is designed, developed and maintained on behalf of the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s funded project DAW2112-002RT Disease epidemiology, modelling and delivery of management decision support tools.
Thank you to Luise Fanning (Agriculture Victoria, Project Officer – Grains Pathology Service) and Jean Galloway (DPIRD, Principal Research Scientist) for their contribution and expertise.
