Stripe Rust

Stripe rust

Description

• Stripe rust is one of the most important foliar diseases of wheat in southern Australia

• Stripe rust can only survive on a living host

Symptoms

• Stripe rust causes characteristic raised yellow stripes of pustules that can be wiped off

• Characteristic 'hot spots' are infected areas of plants, 1-10 meters in diameter, which are generally well developed just before the disease becomes widespread in the crop

Damage

• When susceptible and very susceptible varieties are grown, stripe rust is likely to cause annual average losses of up to 50 per cent with individual crop losses much higher

• Grain quality is also affected

Control

Removal of volunteer wheat plants in the 6 weeks prior to sowing will greatly reduce the amount of inoculum present and avoidance of Very Susceptible and Susceptible varieties by selecting the most resistant varieties possible will generally be enough to control this disease. Using a seed or fertiliser fungicide treatment to suppress early infection, and applyication of a foliar fungicide early in the epidemic, if required are also useful management strategies. Effective fungicides for controlling stripe rust are available; but should be regarded as a support, and not a substitute, for growing resistant varieties.

Links and Resources

DAFWA - Cereal seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides Information on cereal seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides used for common bunt, disease diagnosis, and cautions. Updated 2011.

DEPI VIC - Identification and management of field crop diseases in Victoria. Stripe Rust Page 18. Overview of the three rusts, introduction on stripe rust, what to look for, disease cycle, management strategies, and resistance. Published 2012.

DEPI VIC - Stripe Rust of Wheat Stripe rust in Victoria, symptoms, disease cycle, management strategies, and wheat variety ratings to stripe rust resistance. Published 2007, updated 2013, reviewed 2013.

DPI NSW - Stripe rust: Understanding the disease in wheat Stripe rust causes and control, disease cycle, disease resistance, pathotypes of rust, losses from rust at varying plant growth stages, and management. Published 2005.

GRDC - Stripe Rust Management 3 page PDF. Take home messages, epidemic development, pathotype distribution, variety responses, and management. Published 2005.

Victorian winter crop summary 2014. Stripe rust Table 6: Wheat disease guide. Page 11. Causal organism, symptoms, occurrence, inoculum source, and control. Updated annually.