AHEAD of tomorrow’s webinar, a new digital decision-support tool is online to help growers manage a serious crop disease and optimise paddock potential.

Characteristic septoria tritici blotch lesions on wheat. Photo: Luise Fanning, Agriculture Victoria

The SeptoriaTriticiWM app was developed by the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Agriculture Victoria, with co-investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

SeptoriaTriticiWM is the latest decision support tool in the WM, or wheat management, series.

It will assist wheat growers to target treatments for septoria tritici blotch, a foliar disease that occurs in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in high to medium-rainfall areas, although prevalence is rising in the low-rainfall zone.

This new tool complements the other wheat decision support tools available, StripeRustWM and YellowSpotWM.

Septoria tritici blotch typically occurs from mid-winter and causes yield losses of up to 50 percent if left uncontrolled, while grain quality can also be compromised, resulting in delivery downgrades and financial penalties.

WA DPIRD research scientist Jean Galloway said the app provided growers with a valuable tool to make informed fungicide treatment decisions.

“The SeptoriaTriticiWM decision support tool enables users to compare the profitability of different management strategies to help determine if and when to invest in paddock treatment,” Ms Galloway said.

“It takes into account costs, yield benefits, grain price and seasonal conditions to give best case, worst case and most likely estimates of financial returns from fungicide applications.”

Agriculture Victoria plant pathology research leader Josh Fanning said the app provides tailored results based on growers’ paddock conditions and management choices.

“The app can be customised using paddock selection, variety, crop growth stage, disease levels, stubble load, seasonal conditions, prices and management options, to support informed decisions about disease management,” Dr Fanning said.

The SeptoriaTriticiWM app is now available on Apple and Android platforms and can be downloaded on all phone and tablet devices.

A 30-minute webinar about the SeptoriaTriticiWM app will be held tomorrow at 3pm AEST.

For more details and links to download visit the DPIRD website.

Source: WA DPIRD