Fungicide resistance testing and a call for samples

Fungicide resistance testing, call for samples, and a loose smut of barley webinar

Harvest is fast approaching, with some areas of Australia already starting. With the drier spring in many parts of Victoria disease risk has also reduced. However, seed quality will be of significant importance across most crops. We are receiving many enquiries regarding loose smut and as a result we are hosting a webinar (see details below). With low levels of disease in many pulse crops it’s important to protect the pods which are susceptible to disease. Please ensure you consider harvest withholding periods and Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) if you do decide to use a fungicide.

Fungicide resistance testing survey

There has been recent interest in testing commercial crops for farm specific advice on fungicide resistance. All testing is currently run through research projects and does not offer this capability.

In response to this, research organisations are looking to test the viability of developing such a service and are scoping interest. If you or your growers are interested in this sort of service, please complete the following form as soon as possible. It should take between 5-10 minutes to complete https://curtin.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cZvMAcQBDbf1zM

Free fungicide resistance testing this season

We are also looking for a large number of disease samples for resistance testing. With fungicide resistance confirmed or suspected in cereals we are particularly interested in:

net blotches (spot form and net form) in barley and
Septoria tritici in
wheat fungicide resistance samples across Victoria.

In pulses, we have limited information on the presence of resistance, so this would provide considerable benefit.

The last large monitoring effort in cereals was in 2017 so this will help to update our understanding of fungicide resistance in Victoria. Samples from across the southern region are welcome.

To help out with this, please send in leaf samples (5-10 leaves with good disease symptoms) and fill in the attached 2023 Fungicide resistance testing form. Please note that samples sent in using this form will not be assessed for other issues and you will not receive an individual report.

We will endeavour to send out a summary of results once they become available next year to this network.

For general CropSafe samples, please continue to use the normal CropSafe form. Where possible, we will also collect fungicide resistance subsamples from these too. The CropSafe forms can be found on the AgVic website under the CropSafe program.

Barley loose smut webinar

In response to widespread reports of Loose smut in barley and questions around management options we have organised a webinar for Monday 30^th of October, 5pm AEDT.

Andrea Hills (DPIRD) will be presenting on loose smut control and Hari Dadu (AgVic) will provide an update on the situation in Vic during 2023. A recording will be made available after the webinar, and we encourage all growers and agronomists with loose smut in their barley crops this season to register.

Upcoming Events – all events can be found on Field Crop Diseases Vic under Upcoming Events

Southern Pulse Agronomy Field Day – Tomorrow

When: Thursday 19 October, 9:00am – 1:00pm

Where: Dooen

Topics covered include:

Lentil, Chickpea, Field Pea, Faba Bean and Vetch varieties and agronomy
Disease management options combining improved resistance, fungicides and agronomy
New herbicide tolerance traits
Marketing options in pulses

Barley loose smut webinar

When: Monday 30 October, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (AEDT)

Join Andrea Hill (DPIRD), Hari Dadu (AgVic), and Geoff Thomas (DPIRD) as they provide the latest information about loose smut, particularly relating to the current situation in Victoria and Western Australia.