Eyespot disease could be lurking in the base of wheat crops and growers are being advised to consider the risk when finalising their T1 fungicide spray plans.

The combination of wet weather and cooler temperatures during March and early April have provided ideal conditions for the fungal disease and it is being found where growers wouldn’t usually expect to see it.

For Crop Management Partners agronomist Tristan Gibbs, eyespot is something he rarely sees in the south-east corner of the UK.

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However, it can quite easily be found this season, especially in earlier-drilled crops. He puts that largely down to the weather, but feels variety resistance might be a factor.

“Eyespot ratings appear to have fallen away over time. We only have two varieties with better scores than 6 – Zyatt and Revelation – but we have numerous 4s, and Sundance scores less. Perhaps it is a factor.”

He hopes it will dry out now that warm weather is forecast, but will factor it in to T1 sprays.

“I’ve seen the odd bit in the past, but usually symptoms disappear as leaf sheaths die off during spring growth.”

Further around the coast into Sussex and Hampshire, fellow Crop Management Partners agronomist Richard Cromie is also seeing eyespot, most frequently at fertile sites.

He hasn’t found any signs of penetrating lesions, but feels the disease might need dealing with.

However, he stresses it’s important not to lose sight of priorities.

“Only if you get penetrating lesions and severe crop lodging will it cause the same sort of yield reductions as septoria or rusts. This is where the focus needs to be, with eyespot control built in, rather than the base for T1 mixes.”

High septoria pressure means Mr Cromie will opt for a second-generation SDHI with prothioconazole or epoxiconazole.

“The partner azole can be changed for specific cases – prothioconazole for eyespot or fusarium and wheat after maize, epoxiconazole for brown rust.”