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Resources – Podcasts

Manage

disease pressure

Minimise

fungicide use

Engage

with extension

Podcasts

Fungicide Resistance – (2021)

These podcasts were recorded late in 2021 to provide seasonally relevant information about fungicide resistance and management. Many of the principles discussed remain relevant, regardless of the timing.

Generous rain and high prices have increased the economic risk from Sclerotinia and blackleg in canola crops this season. Dr Steve Marcroft, Marcroft Grains Pathology, outlines the very real risk of fungicide resistance developing in blackleg of canola in Australia – and how growers can achieve sustainable disease control.

Fungicide resistance in canola crops

by Dr Steve Marcroft

While farmers typically spray fungicide to manage one disease, Dr Steven Simpfendorfer explains how spraying one pathogen can inadvertently encourage resistance in other pathogens that may be present. Some typical examples include rusts and powdery mildew in wheat; blackleg and sclerotinia in canola; and net blotches and powdery mildew in barley.

Nick Poole from FAR Australia provides an excellent explanation of how to target fungicide applications for the best economic return. He describes the value of focusing on critical growth stages and their ‘money leaves’, the best way to manage disease risk in crops before tillering, and the importance of protecting fungicide effectiveness for the long term.

Fungicide Resistance – regional series (2021)

These podcasts were recorded early in the growing season 2021 to provide seasonally relevant information about fungicide resistance and management. Many of the principles discussed remain relevant, regardless of the timing.

Fungicide resistance in the north

by Professor Levente Kiss

Growers in the north could consider fungicide resistance less of a threat than growers in the south and west, however there is no room for complacency.

As Professor Levente Kiss from the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Crop Health points out in this podcast, as long as there are fungal crop diseases there is a risk of fungal resistance. Barley, wheat and pulses can all be affected.

Northern growers need to appreciate the importance of rotating and mixing fungicides, including as seed treatments, in order not to encourage fungicide resistance in important diseases such as barley net blotches, mung bean powdery mildew, wheat powdery mildew and septoria tritici blotch.

South Australian grain growers have been alerted to several cases of fungicide resistance in recent growing seasons, including in net form net blotch of barley, and wheat powdery mildew.

In this podcast, Dr Hugh Wallwork, from the South Australian Research and Development Institute, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions’ research division, talks about the factors that contribute to fungicide resistance and how fungicide management needs to begin with variety and seed treatment selection before sowing.

He explains that growers should be using all available agronomic practices to reduce disease pressure and should avoid repeat applications of a single fungicide active or chemical Mode of Action. This will help protect the effectiveness and availability of their essential fungicide controls.

In WA, outbreaks of fungicide resistance have occurred in several important diseases of barley. Resistance is a significant but preventable problem that can largely be managed by taking care not to repeatedly expose a pathogen to the same product or chemical Mode of Action Group.

It is important for growers to recognise that this management regime can include fungicide seed treatments and in-furrow fungicide applications, as well as foliar sprays later in the season. Fungicide rotations to manage and prevent fungicide resistance need to take all of these applications into account.

Geoff Thomas, plant pathologist from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA, discusses the importance of using an integrated disease management program to reduce disease pressure and manage fungicide use and resistance in WA cropping systems.

Fungicide Resistance Five podcast series

The ‘Fungicide Resistance Five’ is the basis for an integrated disease management strategy that growers can use on-farm to reduce fungicide resistance pressure on crop pathogens.

This six-part podcast series, produced through the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN), unpacks the individual elements of the strategy to inform growers why and how they should minimise the risk of fungicide resistance developing in their paddocks.

AFREN is a significant GRDC investment that brings together a national network of regional plant pathologists, fungicide resistance experts and communications and extension specialists. It is co-ordinated through the Centre for Crop Disease Management (CCDM), a co-investment between the GRDC and Curtin University.

Dr Kylie Ireland, first Extension Coordinator of Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN), discusses how fungicide resistance occurs, its potential impact on crop production, and how the Fungicide Resistance Five can help growers mitigate their risk.

How does variety selection help slow fungicide resistance? Dr Grant Hollaway points out how planting crop varieties with genetic resistance to frequently occurring diseases can reduce disease pressure and an unhealthy reliance on fungicides.

Avoiding susceptible crop varieties

by Dr Grant Hollaway | The FR Five

Long-practiced crop rotations are an effective non-chemical means of reducing (or even eliminating) soil and stubble borne fungal pathogens in paddocks. DPIRD plant pathologist Geoff Thomas discusses the continued importance of practicing crop rotation for disease control.

South Australian plant pathologist Dr Tara Garrard covers the range of agronomic practices growers have at their disposal to reduce disease pressure, limit fungicide applications and lower the risk of promoting fungicide resistance in their crops.

Fungicides remain a valuable and powerful tool for managing crop disease and FAR Australia Managing Director Nick Poole explains how to identify the right times to apply fungicide for maximum effect and economic benefit.

Using fungicide mixtures and rotating Mode of Action groups is vital to eliminate resistant pathogen strains. Fungicide resistance specialist Dr Fran Lopez-Ruiz from Centre for Crop Disease Management at Curtin University highlights the importance of a dynamic spray program.

Other resources

Check out some of the other resources available on the AFREN website.

Management Guide

The Fungicide Resistance Management in Australian Grain Crops guide explains fungicide resistance and best practice management strategies.

Blog Posts

The blog posts published provide a snapshot summary of some key messages on fungicide resistance available within AFREN.

Podcasts

Podcasts produced with leading fungicide resistance experts on key topics are available on most podcast streaming services.

Videos

Videos produced to help growers understand how fungicide resistance develops and how to prevent it from becoming an issue.

Case Studies

These case studies provide useful insight into managing fungicide resistance in the cropping system.

Webinars

Webinars were delivered in 2020 and 2021 to provide seasonal updates on diseases pressures and fungicide issues.

Fact sheets

Fact sheets on individual crops, diseases and specific resistance cases are available online.

Other resources

A series of links to other useful online resources regarding fungicide resistance and disease management.