"Planning a wheat management strategy now starts with the seed," says BASF's Jonathan Tann. A strategy should include the systemic seed treatment Epona, which will reduce disease inoculum levels and delay the onset of a Yellow rust or Septoria tritici epidemic.
This opinion is backed up by industry expert Bill Clark, cereal pathologist with ADAS: "The weather conditions earlier last spring favoured the disease - and now with less time between harvest and drilling preventing stale seedbed preparation, the risk could be higher."
He adds: "Yellow rust was widespread last season - it was only the hot weather in June that stopped it becoming a major problem. This autumn, about 20% of the area will be drilled with varieties susceptible to the same race of Yellow rust: Robigus, Glasgow and Dickson. In addition Cordiale, Napier and Access are susceptible to another race.
"There can be no doubt these varieties are going to get infected. The choice for the grower is to use a seed treatment this autumn, or take the risk of being able to get on in the spring with a prompt T0 or T1 spray. My advice is to act now."
Mr Clark's opinion is based on the results of trials carried out on the 2005 crop at ADAS Terrington, near Kings Lynn. At this Yellow rust 'hot spot' Epona (fluquinconazole + prochloraz) seed treatment on Robigus was found to give "very good" suppression of the early development of the disease during winter and early spring.
BASF demonstration trials last season also highlighted how Epona can reduce Yellow rust infection and get the best out of high performing variety Robigus. In these trials the disease was reduced by 60-75% on the flag and leaf one, compared to a single purpose treatment under high infection levels.
"Controlling the green bridge, later drilling, and using Epona will all help to give the crop a head start - and reduce risk by slowing down the development of Yellow rust and Septoria tritici, which will help if the T0 or T1 sprays are delayed in the spring", says Jonathan Tann.
