Wheat stripe rust management 2023

Summary

• Above average rainfall years are usually conducive to stripe rust infection. However, temperature, especially during spring, was a significant factor in the prevalence of stripe rust in 2021 and 2022.
• 2022 was a complex season for stripe rust management.
• The 2022 season needs to be kept in perspective. Stripe rust pressure in 2023 is likely to be high early in the season requiring timely management. Further development will depend heavily on conditions in spring. The cheapest ‘fungicide’ could be 3 weeks of dry and warm weather in spring.
• Under favourable environmental conditions, yield loss can be up to 75% if uncontrolled in susceptible (S) varieties.
• Stripe rust is a communal disease with spores being able to travel hundreds of kilometres.
• Pathotypes can vary between districts – know which is dominant in your area and keep updated with in-season information as management can be dynamic.
• ‘Green bridge’ control is vital to reducing inoculum levels in the environment.