Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI&F) officers are issuing the alert after stripe rust infestations have been reported from central and southern NSW, and more recently at northern centres of Moree and Walgett.

DPI&F wheat industry development officer, Ann-Maree Bach, says the NSW rust infestations have an important bearing on disease management for northern growers.

“Early stripe rust detection should raise industry-wide concern and growers may need to plan for control strategies,” she said.

”Stripe rust was found throughout southern and central Queensland in the 2007 growing season, so infections as early as this could lead to serious stripe rust epidemics and economic losses.”

Ms Bach said recent weather is providing optimum conditions for stripe rust infection, and growers need to be aware of the potential threat that it may pose on their properties.

“It is critical this season that growers in Queensland begin monitoring for stripe rust and other foliar disease, such as yellow spot, before growth stage 30 to allow enough time to protect the plant before damage is done to the flag leaf,” she said.

Ms Bach said the earlier the infection the more damage the disease could cause.

“The most damage is caused when the flag leaf and the two leaves below (the primary factories for yield and quality of the wheat plant) are infected,” she said.

“If stripe rust is present, fungicide management may be required on properties that have wheat varieties with stripe rust ratings less than “Moderately Resistant (MR)” or in the old numerical scoring, 6.”

To have plant samples identified, mail the samples in paper envelopes (without plastic wrapping or plastic-lined packages) to:

Emerging Disease Program, Leslie Research Station,

13 Holberton Street,

Toowoomba Qld 4370, to the attention of Peter Wilkinson or Matt Davis.

Specimens will be identified, collated and forwarded to the Australian Rust Survey in NSW.

* More information on:

www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fieldcrops (under wheat), including the Wheat Varieties for Queensland 2008 Guide.