Cereal rusts alert in Western Australia

South Coast grain growers are urged to be on high alert for cereal rust outbreaks this season [2009] following further discoveries of barley leaf rust in the region. The abundance of barley leaf rust and wheat stem rust on volunteer cereals over summer [2008/2009] were strong warnings of rust risk for this season [2009], according to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia plant pathologist Kith Jayasena said the risks to crops were high on the south coast after a build up of rust during a damp summer. "We have not detected wheat stripe rust in the state at this stage, but the barley leaf rust is an early indicator that other rust diseases could come to prominence along the south coast soon," Dr Jayasena said. "In the central and northern regions we had unfavourable conditions for rust development; however the risk of a stripe rust outbreak is still present."

Dr Jayasena said growers across the state should continue to monitor their crops carefully because there was still a significant risk of yield losses if rust became established, and with all rust diseases early identification is most important for efficient management.

"Potential yield losses from stripe rust will diminish, the later in the season an outbreak occurs; however stem rust is favoured by warmer spring conditions and can cause significant yield loss even with late season outbreaks," he said.