Services and resources available to assist with disease forecasts, disease occurrence and identification
Crop disease forecasts
From an understanding of the biology of plant pathogens it is possible to estimate the risks associated with diseases in key crops. Research undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and collaborators from South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW-DPI), Agriculture Victoria and Marcroft Grains Pathology has been used to develop tools to allow risk assessments to be made in the lead up to the cropping season as part of a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) funded project. Risk forecasts for blackleg in canola, blackspot in field pea and pea seed borne mosaic virus in field pea are available below.
Crop disease risk forecasts
PestFax
PestFax is a free weekly informative and interactive reporting service during the growing season. It provides risk alerts, current information and advice on pests and diseases threatening crops and pastures throughout the grain belt of Western Australia during each growing season. Subscribe and view the latest newsletter on the Pestfax page.
The PestFax map allows users to report pest and disease finds and view historic maps of past insect and disease reports.
Diagnosis tools and services
Correct diagnosis is crucial for successful management of crop diseases. DDLS - Plant pathology services provides a wide range of chargeable services to assist with identification of crop foliar diseases, viruses, nematodes and root diseases. These include plant disease diagnostics (on leaves, whole plants, roots and soil), seed disease testing and weed and insect identification.
Refer to the DDLS - Plant pathology services page for more information and to request submission forms, sampling and postage instructions. For more information refer to How to take a plant sample YouTube video.
The MyCrop app is available to assist you to correctly diagnose a constraint in your crop yourself. For more information refer to How to diagnose crop constraints YouTube video, or visit the MyCrop page to download the MyCrop app.
Green bridge and seasonal outlook
Control of volunteer crops and weeds that come up over summer and being aware of the seasonal outlook are important for good disease management. It is also important to know which fungicide product is registered for which crop and disease in WA.
For more information refer to:
Fungicide registrations
- Seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides for cereals in WA (includes current product registrations)
- Seed dressing and in-furrow fungcides for canola in WA (includes current product registrations)
- Registered foliar fungicides for cereals in WA (includes current product registrations)
- Registered foliar fungicides for lupin in WA (includes current product registrations)
- Registered foliar fungicides for canola in WA (includes current product registrations)
Information on managing specific crop diseases
Cereal crops
The pages listed below cover how to manage specific foliar diseases in wheat, barley, oats and triticale.
For more information on managing cereal diseases contact Geoff Thomas, Kith Jayasena, Andrea Hills or Ciara Beard. For more information on cereal viruses contact Brenda Coutts (contact information at bottom of page).
- Smut and bunt diseases of cereal (biology, identification and management)
- Wheat streak mosaic virus and wheat curl mite
- Managing barley yellow dwarf virus and cereal yellow dwarf virus in cereals
Wheat
For information on how to manage specific foliar diseases in wheat refer to:
Rust
- Diagnosing stripe rust of wheat
- Diagnosing stem rust of wheat
- Diagnosing leaf rust of wheat
- Managing stem rust of wheat
- Managing stripe rust and leaf rust of wheat
- Implications of the known wheat leaf rust pathotypes in WA
Powdery mildew
- Powdery mildew in cereals
- Managing powdery mildew in wheat
- Foliar fungicide strategies for managing powdery mildew in wheat - 2016 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Fungicides at seeding for management of powdery mildew in wheat- 2017 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Wheat powdery mildew epidemiology and crop management options - 2019 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
Variety disease ratings
Barley
For information on how to manage specific foliar diseases in barley refer to:
Net blotches in barley
- Managing net type and spot type net blotch of barley
- Yield and grain quality losses in barley varieties infected with spot type net blotch (STNB)
- Fungicides at seeding for management of spot type net blotch in barley- 2017 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper (scroll to second paper at this link)
- Management of barley net blotches in the face of fungicide resistance
Powdery mildew
Rust
- New barley leaf rust pathotype and implications
- “Where we are with Adult Plant Resistance varieties for barley leaf rust - is it worth spraying?” - 2018 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
Loose smut
- Managing loose smut in barley
- Barley loose smut – control, variety susceptibility and effects on grain yield - 2019 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
Variety disease ratings
Oats
For information on how to manage specific foliar diseases in oats refer to:
Canola
For information on how to manage specific foliar diseases in canola refer to:
Sclerotinia stem rot
- Diagnosing sclerotinia stem rot in canola
- Managing sclerotinia stem rot in canola
- Why sclerotinia was so bad in 2013 - Crop Updates paper 2014
- Sclerotinia in canola - ground infections, effect of row spacings. Is it worth spraying after you see the disease? - 2017 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Understanding how Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum initiates stem rot - 2018 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Tailored Management of Sclerotinia in Canola through the SclerotiniaCM app - 2019 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Validating the SclerotiniaCM app for managing sclerotinia - 2019 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- SclerotiniaCM - where to download the app
Blackleg
- Diagnosing blackleg in canola
- Managing blackleg in canola
- Fungicide options for managing blackleg in canola - Crop Updates paper 2014
- BlacklegCM app for helping make decisions in managing blackleg in canola
- Blackleg CM - a new app to manage blackleg in canola - GRDC Grains Research Updates paper 2018
Turnip yellows virus
Other canola diseases
- Diagnosing alternaria black spot in canola
- Diagnosing white leaf spot in canola
- Diagnosing downy mildew in canola
- Diagnosing clubroot in canola
- Diagnosing damping off in canola
Variety disease ratings
- Canola variety guide including disease ratings for blackleg
Fungicide registrations
- Registered foliar fungicides for canola in WA
- Registered seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides for canola in WA
For more information on canola diseases contact Ravjit Khangura, Ciara Beard or Andrea Hills
Lupins
For information on how to manage specific foliar diseases in lupins refer to:
- Diagnosing cucumber mosaic virus in lupins
- Diagnosing bean yellow mosaic virus in lupins
- Managing insects, weeds and disease in albus lupin variety Andromeda
- Lupin root diseases: diagnosis and management
- Lupin foliar diseases: diagnosis and management
Variety disease ratings
For information on lupin diseases contact Geoff Thomas. For more information on lupin viruses contact Brenda Coutts.
Fungicide registrations
Pulses
For information on how to manage specific foliar diseases in pulses refer to:
- Faba bean: rust disease
- Faba bean: ascochyta blight disease
- Field pea: crop management and production
- Pea seed-borne mosaic virus - occurrence and management in field pea crops in WA - 2016 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- New fungicides for controlling ascochyta in chickpeas - 2019 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
For more information on pulse diseases contact Jean Galloway.
Root diseases and nematodes
For information on how to manage specific root diseases in crops see nematodes and root diseases below.
Nematodes
- Diagnosing cereal cyst nematode
- Diaognising root lesion nematode
- How to diagnose root lesion nematode (YouTube video)
- Root lesion and burrowing nematodes: diagnosis and management - Bulletin 4698 (available on request by contacting Ciara Beard)
- Root lesion nematode has a picnic in 2013 - Crop Update paper 2014
- Pratylenchus teres - WA's home grown root lesion nematode - Crop Update paper 2013
- The invisible threat: Canola yield losses caused by root lesion nematode in WA - 2017 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Oats, pastures and other legumes – Are rotations offering breaks for root lesion nematodes or crown rot? - 2018 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
For more information on nematodes contact Sarah Collins.
Root diseases
- Take-all in cereals
- Crown rot of cereals
- Rhizoctonia root rot
- How to diagnose rhizoctonia root rot (YouTube video)
- Pythium root rot in cereals
- Common root rot of cereals
- Root disease under intensive cereal production systems - Bulletin 4732 (available on request by contacting Ciara Beard)
- Rhizoctonia bare patch in cereals - integrated disease management options - Crop Update paper 2013
- UAV monitoring of rhizoctonia bare patches for targeted treatment - 2017 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Choosing the best yielding wheat and barley variety under high crown rot - 2017 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Characterising soil borne disease risk in the eastern wheat belt of Western Australia and national significance of major diseases - 2018 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- The effect of variety and regional nutrition stategies on crown rot severity in Merredin - 2019 GRDC Grains Research Updates paper
- Lupin root diseases: diagnosis and management
- Damping off in canola
For more information on root diseases contact Daniel Huberli and Kylie Chambers.
Crop disease surveillance activities
DPIRD staff are conducting an annual integrated surveillance and monitoring program for foliar diseases of cereal, oilseeds and pulses in WA cropping zones. The project is jointly funded by DPIRD and GRDC and aims to generate data that will minimise the impact of priority diseases and direct effective disease management strategies. The program involves surveillance of commercial crops, NVT sites and trial sites. Results of recent disease surveys are presented on the webpage 'Crop disease surveillance activities'.
Recent crop disease media statments
- Breakthrough in genetic research to improve SNB resistance in new wheat varieties 2019
- Growers to get more data on disease resistance in crops 2019
- Milling oats an option for paddocks with crown rot: DPIRD research 2019
- Early warning system to help protect crops from canola disease Turnip yellows virus 2019
- SclerotiniaCM app to boost canola disease management 2019
- Look out for Ramularia leaf spot in barley 2019
- Elevated risk of canola fungal disease 2018
- Updated wheat variety disease ratings to protect crops 2018
- Survey highlights impact of soil borne disease risk on crop yields 2018
- New app for canola growers to manage blackleg disease 2018
- App being developed to improve sclerotinia management in canola 2018
- Cereal disease yield loss data on the horizon 2017
- Blackleg Sporacle warns of elevated disease risk 2017
- More yellow spot resistance genes discovered 2017
- Tips for managing cereal disease threats in 2017 2017
- Review wheat disease ratings for high risk year 2017
- Be prepared for pest and disease threat to grain crops 2017
- Fungicide timing key to control sclerotinia 2017
Crop disease research publications and crop update papers
2021 GRDC Grains Research Updates, Perth and regional
coming soon
2020 GRDC Grains Research Updates, Perth and regional
coming soon
2019 GRDC Grains Research Updates, Perth
- Barley loose smut – control, variety susceptibility and effects on grain yield
- Tailored Management of Sclerotinia in Canola through the SclerotiniaCM app
- Validating the SclerotiniaCM app for managing sclerotinia
- The effect of variety and regional nutrition stategies on crown rot severity in Merredin
- Wheat powdery mildew epidemiology and crop management options
- New fungicides for controlling ascochyta in chickpeas
2018 GRDC Grains Research Updates, Perth
- Fungicide resistance: discoveries in barley net blotches pave way to better understanding the resistance mechanisms
- Understanding how Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum initiates stem rot
- Blackleg CM a new app to manage blackleg in canola
- Characterising soil borne disease risk in the eastern wheat belt of Western Australia and national significance of major diseases
- Oats, pastures and other legumes – Are rotations offering breaks for root lesion nematodes or crown rot?
- Apps, traps and LAMP’s: ‘Smart’ improvements to pest and disease management
- “Where we are with Adult Plant Resistance varieties for barley leaf rust - is it worth spraying?”
- Yield and grain quality losses in barley varieties infected with spot type net blotch (STNB)
- The effect of varietal resistance on the yield loss function of wheat to different foliar diseases
2017 GRDC Grains Research Updates, Perth
- Sclerotinia in canola - ground infections, effect of row spacings. Is it worth spraying after you see the disease?
- Fungicides at seeding for management of cereal foliar diseases including spot type net blotch
- UAV monitoring of rhizoctonia bare patches for targeted treatment
- Choosing the best yielding wheat and barley variety under high crown rot
- The invisible threat: Canola yield losses caused by root lesion nematode in WA
2016 GRDC Grains Research Updates, Perth
- Yield response to fungicide control of barley spot type net blotch
- Foliar fungicide strategies for managing powdery mildew in wheat
- New cereal rusts in WA and implications for management
- Less yellow spot in wheat- progress towards a decision support tool
- Pea seed-borne mosaic virus - occurrence and management in field pea crops in WA
2015 Agribusiness Crop Updates, Perth
- Rhizoctonia solani AG8: new break throughs in control and management
- Rhizoctonia and crown rot status of Western Australian paddocks can be managed with crop rotation
- Reduce losses from crown rot through variety choice and inter-row sowing
- Incursion of new pathotype of wheat leaf rust into Western Australia in 2013 and its potential impact in Mace
- Stacking yellow spot resistance genes into fixed lines results in genetic gain
- Monitoring airborne spores as an early disease warning
- White grain disorder of wheat in Western Australia
- New ascochyta blight resistant chickpea varieties offer profitable legume options to growers
- Barley varieties with adult plant resistance stand up for leaf rust
- Recent changes in disease resistance profiles of barley varieties in Western Australia
- Fungicide timings for the management of septoria in Bannister oats
- Developing a forecasting model and decision support system for pea seed-borne mosaic virus epidemics in field pea crops
2014 Agribusiness Crop Updates, Perth
- Root lesion nematode has a picnic in 2013
- Why sclerotinia was so bad in 2013
- Potassium deficiency can make wheat more vulnerable to yellow spot and septoria nodorum blotch
- Seed dressings to control loose smut in Hindmarsh barley
- Novel management of barley powdery mildew in the presence of fungicide resistance
- Fungicide options for managing blackleg in canola
- A novel reliable method of field screening for yellow spot resistance
- Monitoring barley powdery mildew resistance
2013 Agribusiness Crop Updates, Perth
- Pratylenchus teres WA's home grown root lesion nematode
- A meta-analysis of 30 years of DAFWA's field trials on fungicide management of yellow spot septoria nodorum blotch disease complex of wheat in WA
- Environment affects maturation of yellow spot on wheat stubble
- Spiroxamine offers an additional cost effective mode of action
- Integrated disease management options to control rhizoctonia bare-patch in cereals
- Indentifation of novel sources of yellow spot resistance in wheat
- Strategies for genetic enhancement of resistance to stagonospora nodorum blotch and yellow spot in wheat