MAF PLANT HEALTH MONITIR

Press, 11 October 1985, Page 26

MAF PLANT HEALTH MONITIR

Cereal growers and others connected with the industry will welcome the publication of the first of the M.A.F. AgPhoto sets, Cereals: Pest, Diseases, Damage. Most common cereal problems are illustrated in 38 colour photographs, plastic laminated and spiral bound in a durable pocket size booklet for field use.

Fanners can use the AgPhoto set as an aid to recognising pest and disease problems in their, own

crops. The symptoms are illustrated in colour and carefully described so that problems are easily distinguished. AgLinks are referred to for more information and up-to-date control measures. The sets are available now by post, or over the counter at Advisory Services Division, Lincoln, M.A.F. with order forms available from all offices and most industry representatives. CEREALS

© Several diseases can cause foot rotting in cereal crops at this time of the year. Eyespot and sharp eyespot are difficult to tell apart in the field, but a laboratory diagnosis is rapid and straightforward. Several Fusarium species also cause foot rot and takeall produces a foot rot phase, with the disease spreading up from infected roots.

No practical chemical control is available for the majority of these diseases except eyespot, which needs controlling in second year

cereal crops at stem elongation. Recognition can allow sequence planning so that alternative, non-susceptible crops can be grown to minimise subsequent losses. See AgLinks 222 and 551, and AgPhoto set 1 for detailed identifications. • Rose-grain aphid is appearing in crops now and if present on most plants, apply an aphicide at flag left extension. Spraying after booting is not likely to be economic. 0 Leaf damage caused by Argentine stem weevil is still being reported. With the possible exception of direct drilled crops, no economic benefit will be gained by applying an insecticide, especially once the plant has passed the tillering stage. @ Any unsold grain stored on farm should be checked fortnightly from now on. • Recently weather conditions have been ideal for the development of powdery mildew in wheat and the disease has been reported in some areas. Growers are advised to check their crops and spray if mildew is present. RASPBERRIES 0 Immediately prior to flowering apply Mancqzeb for canespot and botrytis. PIPFRUIK ® Apples are now at tight cluster so black spot sprays of Baycor plus a protectant fungicide should be applied at label rates. STONEFRUIT ® Check for aphids and apply an aphicide if neces-

RASPBERRIES and BRAMBLES ® Now is the last opportunity to apply a pre-Dlossom clean up spray of Gusathion for leafroller and the raspberry bud moth, which is laying eggs at present. HORTICULTURE ® Eggs laid by overwintering two spotted mites have begun to hatch. It is predicted for most areas, that 50 per cent hatch will have occurred 10 to 14 days from now. If Apollo has not been used and if mites are easily found, Neoron can be applied now. Other miticides should be . applied at more than 50 per cent egg hatch with a repeat application after 14 days if necessary. Apollo should only be used when the majority of new generation mites are still in the egg stage. In some localities it could still be used now. • Flights of grassgrub beetles will start soon and cause leaf damage. Medium to large flights are expected in some areas. Severe defoliation can significantly retard growth in smaller trees and shrubs. PIPFRUIT • About 30 per cent of overwintering European red mite eggs have hatched. Apply a miticide in 14 days time if mites are very common on leaves and predators are absent. Control is not required if mites cannot be found easily now, but action may be warranted in December.