Impact of winter cereal crop choice and sowing date on final soil populations of Pratylenchus thornei – Tulloona 2015

Abstract

Key findings •• Winter cereal crop and variety choice can have a large impact on Pratylenchus thornei (Pt) population build-up within paddocks. •• Averaged across winter cereal entries, final Pt densities were 83% higher when sown in early May compared with early June. •• Final Pt populations were between 1.6 and 4.7 times higher in 14 of the 24 barley entries, the durum line 190873, and 12 of the 19 bread wheat entries when sown in early May compared with early June. •• The additional population build-up with early May sowing generally increased the risk level for yield loss in the following wheat crop from either low to medium, or medium to high compared to sowing in early June. •• Although earlier sowing can reduce yield loss associated with both crown rot (CR) and Pt, it does, however, appear to favour higher Pt population development in some winter cereal varieties, which could exacerbate negative consequences on following crops and/or varieties in the rotation.