Cereal disease guide

Note Number: AG1160
Published: February 2005
Updated: February 2019

Grant Hollaway and Mark McLean

2018 in review

Drier conditions during 2018 limited the development of foliar diseases. However, these same conditions were favourable for crown rot expression with Agriculture Victoria (AgVic) field trials showing losses greater than 20 per cent in wheat.

2019 cereal disease management

Even though diseases were less important in cereal crops during 2018, history tells us that given favourable conditions, diseases can develop quickly and cause losses if not managed. This was the case in 2016, which followed a relatively dry 2015, where wet conditions caused high disease pressure resulting in fungicide shortages.

Cereal diseases will need proactive management during 2019 as there will be high levels of stubble-borne inoculum following reduced breakdown. In some areas, there will be a green bridge (volunteer cereals growing over summer/ autumn) following the early summer rain which will need control to reduce rust and aphid carry over.

Soil-borne diseases are a risk to cereals and testing prior to sowing (PREDICTA B^®) allows at risk paddocks to be identified and avoided.