Research cutback forced on major cereal pest

Press, 12 September 1986, Page 20

Research cutback forced on major cereal pest

The Government’s userpay policy is forcing the D.S.I.R. to cut back on research into cereal cyst nematode which, scientists believe, could seriously reduce cereal yields in Mid-Canterbury. The nematode was first -detected in New Zealand 'in the Ashburton district in 1974. Although the extent of its damage has been largely unmeasured, ■scientists believe the • nematode could become a significant pest J Dr John Marshall, a nematologist for the ento'mology division of the D.S.I.R. at Lincoln, said ;the nematode has the •potential to limit cereal production in Mid-Canter-bury. The growing popularity . of continuous cropping, forced on farmers because of the downturn in farming, would probably increase the spread of the nematode, said Dr Marshall. The division had no option but to reduce the scale of its research into the nematode because of the cut-back in Government funding. Although continuing to study “strategic” aspects of the nematode on small trial plots, the division had been forced to modify plans to do a major research programme, including a comparison of chemical controls and management options, he said. ; The trial would have •provided farmers with information on how best to control the nematode, said Dr Marshall. An approach to agricultural chemical companies 'for finanical help in conducting the trial had a disappointing response as only one company had agreed to contribute. This •company’s nematicide' ’’was being tested this season by the division and

results were expected to be given to the company after the harvest in January. Other companies which supply products for nematode control had turned down the request, because they did not think there would be a sufficient market for their products. “There is no way we can run research programmes as we have in the past,” said Dr Marshall, who believes farmers will suffer most from the reduced scope of the research. Ideally, the whole cereal-growing industry from farmers to merchants and chemical companies should help funo this type of research, he said. The division would still research the biologicial aspects of the nematode, such as monitoring small trial plots to find out at what level of infestation damage occurs, and establish the rate at which nematode populations increase or decrease. However, Dr Marshall said by not carrying out trials of specific control measures the industry would not be fully armed

if the nematode did become a serious pest. Between 1980 and 1985, 12 farmers from Methven to the mouth of the Ashburton River reported cereal cyst nematode damage to their crops, and the nematode has been identified in paddocks as far south as Arundel. Farmers have estimated their barley yields have been cut by 33 to 65 per cent by the nematode and some oat crops have been written off. In Australia, cyst damage was discovered in 1930 and it now affects two million hectares of cereals in the southern wheatbelt, resulting in grain losses of sAust72M. One of the symptoms of nematode infection is a yellowing in the crop, often attributed wrongly to grass grub, take all, spring yellows and localised soil type variations. The yellowing is normally visible for two weeks in late August and early September and the roots have a knotted appearance. The plants are stunted and tiller numbers reduced.