Updates to HGCA’s Topic Sheets on rust and eyespot (available on HGA website here and here) give farmers new information to help tackle wheat diseases.

The Rust Topic Sheet contains new results from the UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS) which show the development of rust races that emerged last year and give information on varietal resistance. Yellow rust is of particular concern, as the fungus can reduce wheat yields by 50 per cent in untreated crops.

The sheet gives information to aid farmers in choosing varieties that will limit the spread of disease, when grown near susceptible varieties.

There is also a new Topic Sheet available on eyespot control. Research funded by the HGCA went into producing the new Topic Sheet, which deals with risk assessment in autumn and spring. It takes several factors into account which are used to generate a risk score, which can then influence fungicide applications for optimal management.

Both updated Topic Sheets available to download and will be mailed out before the end of the month, according to HGCA.

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