Yield impact of crown rot and sowing time on winter cereal crop and variety selection – Tulloona 2015

Abstract

Key findings • Sowing date and variety maturity choice is a balance between the risk of frost versus terminal heat stress. • Earlier sowing can increase frost risk, but also generally maximises yield potential and reduces the extent of yield loss from crown rot. • Cereal crop and variety selection can have a significant impact on yield where there are high levels of crown rot infection. • Durum wheat, barley or bread wheat varieties with increased susceptibility to crown rot, should only be grown in paddocks known to have lowrisk inoculum levels based on testing (e.g. PreDicta B®). • All winter cereal varieties are susceptible to crown rot infection and will not significantly reduce inoculum levels for subsequent crops. Cereal crop and/or variety choice is not the sole solution to crown rot.