Diseases in Wheat

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Septoria nodurum blotch

Description

Foliar disease more common in early sown crops and in wet springs
Initially airborne spores are released from stubble, and then spread by rain splash
Disease currently considered rare

Symptoms

Irregular yellow/black oval leaf spots which can expand to cause death in lesion centres
Badly affected leaves will die back from the tips
Can infect the head when severe late in the season, causing black patches on glumes

Damage

Yield losses (20-30%) can occur in susceptible varieties
Reduction in grain quality can be significant

Control

Resistant varieties, foliar fungicides, seed treatments, stubble removal, and crop rotation can all be effective in reducing disease incidence.

Links and Resources

DAFWA - Farmnote 456. Septoria nodurum blotch

Page contains information on cereal seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides used for septoria nodurum blotch, disease diagnosis, cautions, and further contacts. Page last updated 2011.

DAFWA - Rate response to fungicides for cereal leaf diseases

Summary, background, results, and discussion. Published 1998, last updated 2009.

DAFWA - Septoria nodurum blotch infection in wheat

Summary, risk factors, yield losses, disease management, fungicide application, and control. Published 2005.

Victorian winter crop summary 2014 - Septoria nodorum blotch

Table 6: Wheat disease guide. Page 11. Causal organism, symptoms, occurrence, inoculum source, and control. Updated annually.