An early warning system for yellow rust is being devised by distributor and agronomy group Agrii.

The network of “tussock trials” has seen small plots containing numerous wheat varieties planted at more than a dozen UK locations. The aim is to give growers and agronomists an early indication when any variety starts to show susceptibility to yellow rust.

“This year the yellow rust pressure has been high and we’ve been able to monitor the development and spread of the disease and take action accordingly,” explains Jim Carswell, Agrii’s research and development manager for the northern region.

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“This year the yellow rust pressure has been high and we’ve been able to monitor the development and spread of the disease and take action accordingly.”
Jim Carswell, Agrii

The group’s National Cereal Disease Survey extends to a national monitoring service which tracks changes in the virulence of cereal rust and mildew populations – a tool which plays a vital role in maintaining and improving disease resistance as well as variety selection.

It was established by the company after it identified a need for better disease management strategies in the face of the relatively narrow genetic base of resistance in UK wheat varieties, increasing pressures on agrichemicals and more variable growing seasons.

The 2014 survey involves yellow and brown rust monitoring on untreated tussock plots of wheat varieties grown at 14 locations across the UK. Septoria tritici levels are also being monitored in untreated plots across a sub-sample of sites and varieties.

Disease levels are scored regularly throughout the season to provide “up-to-the-minute” early warnings of disease development by varieties in each area so the group’s agronomists can ensure the most timely and cost-effective treatment.