Nip mildew in the bud says Morley
Nip mildew in the bud says Morley
MILDEW susceptible crops of wheat and barley need protecting before the disease is seen this season, says a top agronomist.
"Our advice to members who are growing varieties such as Claire is to apply Fortress at 0.1 litres/ha with chlormequat at first node, whether visible symptoms are present or not," says Morley Research Centres Doug Stevens.
Growers in mildew prone locations such as the fens should consider the same approach on wheats with mildew resistance ratings of five or even six, he adds. In barley, Regina, Heligan and Pastoral, should be protected in the same way.
At £8-9/ha, the cost of a 0.1 litre/ha Fortress (quinoxyfen) application is similar to a 0.3 litre/ha morpholine treatment, the minimum needed as a clean-up treatment, he says. "And you would need to add a protectant to the morpholine. It wont eliminate mildew from the lower leaves and re-infection can be very quick."