Warning for wheat (From Gazette & Herald)

Warning for wheat

A WARNNG of high disease levels in winter wheat in Yorkshire ahead of the critical T1 spray timing period has been issued by BASF.

The warning is based on disease assessments carried out recently at the BASF agronomy site at Rawcliffe Bridge, Selby, which show high levels of Septoria tritici on lower leaves and evidence of latent infection on new growth.

In addition, there is significant mildew infection on susceptible varieties, in particular Claire, Istabraq and Solstice.

"Given warmer and wetter weather, growers can expect disease to develop rapidly onto newly-emerging growth, and Septoria tritici will continue to be the main target," says Graham Hartwell, BASF's agronomy manager for the Yorkshire region.

He points out that the T1 spray (growth stage 32) is the critical timing for applying cereal fungicides because it "lays the foundation" for maximising the yield potential for the rest of the season.

Updated: 12:23 Wednesday, April 14, 2004