Cereal rusts - Australia: (WA) alert

Date: Tue 18 Aug 2009
Source: Farm Weekly [edited]
<http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/state/grains-and-cropping/general/tale-of-two-regions-for-wa-rust-control/1598154.aspx>


South Coast grain growers are urged to be on high alert for cereal
rust outbreaks this season [2009] following further discoveries of
barley leaf rust in the region. The abundance of barley leaf rust and
wheat stem rust on volunteer cereals over summer [2008/2009] were
strong warnings of rust risk for this season [2009], according to the
Grains Research and Development Corporation [GRDC].

Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia plant
pathologist Kith Jayasena said the risks to crops were high on the
south coast after a build up of rust during a damp summer. "We have
not detected wheat stripe rust in the state at this stage, but the
barley leaf rust is an early indicator that other rust diseases could
come to prominence along the south coast soon," Dr Jayasena said. "In
the central and northern regions we had unfavourable conditions for
rust development; however the risk of a stripe rust outbreak is still
present."

Dr Jayasena said growers across the state should continue to monitor
their crops carefully because there was still a significant risk of
yield losses if rust became established, and with all rust diseases
early identification is most important for efficient management.
"Potential yield losses from stripe rust will diminish, the later in
the season an outbreak occurs; however stem rust is favoured by
warmer spring conditions and can cause significant yield loss even
with late season outbreaks," he said.