Joint ADAS/HGCA Press Release
Growers are warned to be vigilant for brown rust with a much larger than expected number of reports so early in the season, and with significant levels detected on some varieties.
"Brown rust is rarely talked about with regard to T1 spray decisions but this year is a worrying exception" says ADAS cereal pathologist, Bill Clark. "With so much Alchemy in the ground we have not been surprised to see brown rust through the winter and early spring".
Judith Turner of CSL confirms that that levels of brown rust reported to CropMonitor have built up over the past couple of weeks. "Earlier in the season both brown and yellow rust were present. Recently the hot weather has favoured brown rust but yellow rust is still present so both require monitoring on farm".
Jim McVittie, HGCA Recommended Lists Manager, suggests that growers will not be surprised to see brown rust on susceptible varieties such as Solstice, Cordiale, Soissons, Zebedee, Deben, Consort and Alchemy. "What is more surprising is seeing the disease on Robigus and Oakley, but low levels were detected on these varieties in the 2006 disease virulence survey so they certainly need to be watched".
Mr Clark adds that people are not expecting to have to deal with brown rust at this stage but spring temperatures have been so high this season that brown rust has kept going and in the last 2 weeks it has taken off. People may have to change their fungicide plans quickly. Even where T0 and T1 sprays have been applied the brown rust may have moved up onto newly emerged leaves. Yellow rust has been reasonably well controlled but the brown rust on newly emerged leaves is very active. Mr Clark suggests that this poses a problem for many farmers and advisers and some crops may require a pre-T2 spray to protect leaf 2 and leaf 3.
"It could be an expensive season keeping on top of this disease which is traditionally only of concern late in the season" concludes Mr Clark.
Further information on wheat disease control can be found in the latest HGCA topic sheet "Foliar disease control in wheat - 2007" and in the updated "The wheat disease management guide"
For regular updates on the progress of these diseases and others affecting wheat and oilseed rape see CropMonitor www.cropmonitor.co.uk
Release date: 23 April 2007
For further information contact:
Bill Clark, ADAS, 01954 268231
Jim McVittie, HGCA Recommended Lists Manager, 07779 330723 | 
