The Weekly Advertiser Horsham

Warning to grain growers

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Researcher­s are urging grain growers to test the seed they intend to retain for next year’s pulse crop to avoid disease issues in 2019.

Despite dry conditions, there have been significan­t levels of bacterial blight in field peas.

Agricultur­e Victoria research pulse pathologis­t Dr Joshua Fanning said many crop diseases were seed-borne and could be transmitte­d to the following crop.

He said growers could minimise losses from these diseases by only using high-quality seed.

“Seed health tests detect the important seed-borne pathogens and will identify potential disease problems, allowing steps to be taken to reduce the disease risk prior to sowing,” Dr Fanning said.”

“Seed with high levels of seedborne disease should not be used for sowing.” Fellow Agricultur­e Victoria research scientist Dr Pragya Kant has been assessing field pea crops for bacterial blight this season and has found the presence of the disease to be widespread.

She said this was a result of many spring frosts causing damage to the plant, which allowed infection to occur.

Agricultur­e Victoria plant virologist Dr Mohammad Aftab said seed testing would also provide growers with assurance that seedborne viruses were not present in their seedlot.

Agricultur­e Victoria offers seed testing services.

Informatio­n is available online at agricultur­e.vic.gov.au/agricultur­e/pests-diseases-and-weeds/ diagnostic-services.

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