Septoria control advice for 2010 remains unchanged, despite the finding of septoria strains in wheat that appear to be less sensitive to most azole fungicides, an update from Rothamsted Research on behalf of the consortia involved in a DEFRA-funded LINK project says.

The report recognises that during 2009, laboratory tests on artificial media have detected the less sensitive strains from samples taken in France, Ireland and, in a few cases, the UK.

But glasshouse tests on wheat plants inoculated with those strains showed no difference in efficacy with azole fungicides compared with strains from previous years, it notes.

“While plant tests and field trials suggest that control of septoria has not been compromised, it will be important to monitor field populations of septoria over the coming season to see if any further changes occur that might affect disease control.”