Introduction
At seeding, fungicides can be applied to seed (seed dressing) or applied in soil (coated on compound fertiliser or mixed with liquid fertiliser and applied in-furrow) to be taken up by cereal seedlings. Seed dressing fungicides provide protection from seed-borne diseases, such as smuts and bunts. Some seed dressing and/or in-furrow products suppress early foliar diseases, such as yellow spot, powdery mildew and leaf or stripe rust and fungal root rots, such as pythium, rhizoctonia, crown rot and take-all.
Seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides contain one or more active ingredients and are marketed under many different trade names. When choosing seed dressing or in-furrow fungicides, consider the range of diseases that threaten your crop. Consult product labels for registrations, the Australian regulatory database or InfoPest, or see a list of currently registered active ingredients by crop under 'Documents' on the right. Reassess your disease risk before seeding by looking at seasonal forecasts and crop disease forecasts for your local area, all available through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).