Spring Rust May Decrease Grain Yields in Australia

Grain producers in New South Wales and southern Queensland, Australia are anticipating the wide occurrence of pathogens such as ascophyta blight in chickpeas and cereal rust in wheat during the last stages of pre-harvest plant growth. According to Dr. Colin Wellings, a researcher from the University of Sydney investigating the occurrence of the stripe rust, the ideal moisture levels across most of eastern Australia offer favorable conditions for cereal production in spring, at the same time aggravating leaf disease problems including rust.

"The stripe rust situation in eastern Australia indicates that the pathogen population is at sufficient levels to cause problems if timely action is not taken in varieties known to be vulnerable," Dr. Wellings said.

Stem rust and leaf rust continues to spread even if the decreasing temperatures cause the delay of the development of the diseases. Producers and advisors are encouraged to pay close attention to these diseases in spring.

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