Resources
Manage
disease pressure
Minimise
fungicide use
Engage
with extension
AFREN brings together regional plant pathologists, fungicide resistance experts and communications specialists to develop and deliver resources for growers and advisers.
You can view and download our resources here.
Fungicide Resistance Management Guide
Your comprehensive guide to fungicide resistance causes, occurrences and management strategies, prepared by the AFREN team.
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE
(27MB PDF)
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE
(7MB PDF)
Ground Cover Supplement, January-February 2024
GRDC has invested in the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN) since 2019, led by Associate Professor Fran Lopez-Ruiz of Curtin University. This Groundcover Supplement showcases the achievements of AFREN thus far and shines a spotlight on new fungicide-related research underway at Curtin University’s Centre for Crop Disease Management (CCDM).
Click to download the supplement as a PDF, or read some of the articles below:
Tomorrow’s fungicides: gene switches and nanobots
New tools and techniques are being added to the fungicide resistance management arsenal.
‘Next-gen’ monitoring improving fungicide resistance detection
Like human diseases such as cancer, early detection and monitoring is crucial to keeping crops a step ahead of fungicide resistance.
Knowledge is power when managing fungicide resistance in pulses
Australian pulse production is threatened by the risk of fungicide resistance. Most crop species are susceptible to one or more fungal diseases and although breeding has developed some resistant varieties, there are still susceptible varieties grown which require more-frequent fungicide applications.
Fungicide resistance in Queensland: be alert
When the first map of fungicide resistance cases in Australia was compiled in 2016 by the research team at Curtin University’s Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), led by Associate Professor Fran Lopez-Ruiz, Queensland remained a blank region on that map.
Fungicides available for Australian grain crops and their modes of action
Fungicides play a critical role in safeguarding Australian grain crops, ensuring healthy yields and maintaining food security. As one of the world’s leading exporters of grains such as wheat and barley, Australia relies on effective fungicide strategies to combat fungal diseases that can devastate crops.
Fungicide resistance – a mounting problem in Australia
Up-to-date fungicide resistance knowledge is key to managing the increasing number of crop diseases developing this resistance.
Preserving our fungicides
Fungicides belong to a range of essential crop protectant tools that also include insecticides and herbicides. Fungicides can be classified as contact or systemic. Contact fungicides remain on the plant’s surface and are also referred to as protectant or preventative...
Fungicide Resistance – Navigating the storm, January-February 2024
AFREN’s mandate is to help growers and advisers stay informed about the prevalence and management of fungicide resistance in their region.
Curbing the rise of fungicide resistance
The ‘Green Revolution’ and introduction of fungicides, while contributing to a pivotal advancement in grain production, is not without its challenges, foremost among them being the looming threat of fungicide resistance.
Blog Posts
Podcasts
A total of 12 podcasts are available in three series of podcasts.
All podcasts are available on the AFREN website or on most podcast streaming services.
Fact sheets
Two general fact sheets – on Fungicides in Australia and How Fungicide Resistance Develops – have also been produced.
Webinars
Videos
Three videos have been produced to help growers understand how fungicide resistance develops and how you can prevent it from becoming an issue in your cropping programs. The videos are available online.
Case studies
AFREN case study – blackleg Wimmera
The Wimmera has many cereal and pulse options, which facilitates the use of good agronomic practices such as allowing three or four years between canola rotations and separating new crops from previous seasons’ stubble. These practices should help keep disease pressure at moderate levels. However, blackleg can still be an issue in above-average rainfall years and for individual crops.
AFREN case study – blackleg lower EP
While Lower Eyre Peninsula canola growers have gained new fungicides for the control of blackleg, simply replacing DMIs with repeated or high frequency use of SDHIs could encourage new resistant strains of the pathogen.
Local growers and agronomists will be able to protect the long-term effectiveness of their new fungicides by strategically using these fungicides when they are most likely to result in an economic yield gain.
AFREN case study – net form net blotch
Barley growers on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula have seen how quickly fungicide resistance can turn from a potential problem to serious threat in the absence of good management practices.
Sam Holmes is an experienced agronomist in the region, where barley has proven to be a reliable and economically successful crop over many years.
AFREN case study – septoria tritici blotch
Tasmanian wheat growers enjoy a cool climate, relatively high rainfall and long growing season.
However, those cool, moist growing conditions lead to considerable disease pressure from Septoria tritici blotch (STB).
Recommended web resources
GRDC
GRDC Groundcover Supplement: Resistance in Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Issue 139: March – April 2019.
An overview of chemical resistance in weeds, pests and diseases. Largely in laymen’s terms, without compromising on depth or quality.
articles
online fact sheets
Principles of fungicide resistance
Paul Vincelli, Uni of Kentucky.
YouTube videos
Fungicide resistance
Bayer Canada.
Fungicide resistance management
Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC).
Events
FUNGICIDE RESISTANCE WEBINARS
AFREN hosts webinars at various times. Please check back regularly for updates, or view recordings of previous webinars.
16
APR
AFREN webinar - what's new in fungicide resistance?
Wednesday 16 April 2025, 1pm-2pm AEST (12:30pm SA / 11am WA)
Join leading pathologists for a free AFREN webinar covering the latest fungicide resistance discoveries and best-practice disease management strategies for your farm. Hear from:
- Angela Van de Wouw, University of Melbourne – SDHI resistance in blackleg of canola
- Hari Dadu, Agriculture Victoria – Net Form Net Blotch
- Andrea Hills, DPIRD WA – Wheat powdery mildew
Gain valuable insights into the current resistance status and learn how to manage fungicide applications effectively this season.
FUNGICIDE RESISTANCE WORKSHOP SERIES:
Managing cereal and canola foliar diseases and fungicide resistance
Agronomists and grain growers are invited to discuss the cutting edge of disease and fungicide resistance management in a 2-day GRDC-supported workshop, brought to you by the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN).
Workshop facilitator John Cameron said “The 2025 foliar disease and resistance workshops continue on from previous, highly regarded, workshops providing the latest research on foliar disease and resistance in canola and cereals.”
“When you put Nick Poole from FAR Australia alongside resistance expert Fran Lopez from CCDM and key regional pathologists and mix this with the field expertise of 20 leading agronomists, the discussion will be lively and targeted on issues of regional importance and how this is reflected in advice to growers. It’s a great mix, and all who attend – no matter how experienced, will pick up new and valued understanding.”
These ‘small group’ workshops cover:
- Cereal growth stages and spray decisions
- Where different fungicides fit
- Fungicide resistance management and resources
- Integrating fungicides, varieties, epidemiology, and seasons for fun and profit
- Cereal canopy management interactions with foliar disease decision making
- Management strategies that consider the underlying risk of fungicide resistance
- Strategies for managing SDHI and other resistance issues, including net blotches in barley and triazole resistance in powdery mildew
- Canola/pulse disease management & fungicide resistance considerations (location specific)
These small group workshops will run for 2-days. Participant numbers are limited to ensure active participation and discussion. Workshops start at 9:00am day 1, 8:00am day 2 and finish day 2 by 4:00pm.
Cost is $165 ($150 + GST) per workshop.
Registration is essential to secure your place. Enquiries or to register interest in attending a workshop near you, please contact ICAN: Ph: 02 9482 4930 or erica@icanrural.com.au, or fill in the online registration form.
22-23
July
GERALDTON, WA
Location: DPIRD, 20 Gregory Street, Geraldton, WA
Speakers: Dr Fran Lopez-Ruiz (CCDM/Curtin Uni), Nick Poole (FAR Australia), Ciara Beard (DPIRD), Geoff Thomas (DPIRD), John Cameron (ICAN).
Focus crops: wheat, barley, canola and lupins
24-25
July
PERTH, WA
Location: Metro South Perth, 61 Canning Highway, South Perth, WA
Speakers: Dr Fran Lopez-Ruiz (CCDM/Curtin Uni), Nick Poole (FAR Australia), Ciara Beard (DPIRD), Geoff Thomas (DPIRD), Andrea Hills (DPIRD), John Cameron (ICAN).
Focus crops: wheat, barley, canola and lupins
More
info?
Contact us for an event
If you’re interested in having one of our team present an information session on fungicide resistance to your grower or advisory group, please get in touch.
We have regional pathologists in all states, and can deliver in person or online.