Growers should see lower levels of stem canker this season, but more pressure from light leaf spot, according to Bruce Fitt from Rothamsted Research.

Longer term predictions suggested stem canker epidemics could become more regular and the disease could spread as far north as Scotland, he said.

Conversely, light leaf spot pressure was predicted to decline by 2025, while cases of verticillium wilt were expected to increase, he said.