January 6, 2009

BASF has urged rapeseed growers to keep monitoring their crops throughout the winter and early spring in order to take the right course of action for effective disease control.

BASF Oilseed Rape product manager Will Reyer said bad weather conditions in autumn had hit some areas significantly in terms of the overall area drilled, while other areas have crops at varying stages of development.

Reyer said as both Phoma and Light Leaf Spot are responsible for significant yield loss in rapeseed, it is still important to keep an eye on the crop to gauge its individual disease control needs and be prepared to act as and when necessary.

He pointed out the three top yielding varieties added to the list in 2009 have ratings of only 4 to 5 for Phoma which will need close attention to help them reach their full potential.

He said that using disease resistance together with a timely fungicide programme, autumn and spring, will be important as growers manage their crops and focus on maximizing yields.

ADAS plant pathologist Peter Gladders said that smaller crops can benefit from treatment up until stem extension and may need a T2 spray of a non PGR fungicide up until mid-February.

Gladders also said depending on how the conditions pan out over the winter, consideration of a PGR fungicide such as Caramba in the spring will be a good choice as it not only controls disease but also has a beneficial effect on root development and initiates canopy management.