Wheat

Wheat production accounts for 65% of total cereal production in Western Australia with about ten million tonnes generated annually in a rain-fed system across four million hectares of land.

About 95% of WA wheat is exported - predominantly to Asia and the Middle East - generating $2-5 billion in annual export earnings for the state.

Despite a decline in annual rainfall, the improvement in agronomic practices and development of new premium wheat varieties have enabled an increase in WA wheat yield over the past 30 years at a rate higher than world average.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has a strong research, development and extension focus on wheat production through its long history in wheat breeding - now privatised through Intergrain - and the development of wheat variety management packages for the state’s grain production zones.

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Articles

  • Affected plants stunted with stiff, rolled leaves, which are sometimes darker than those of healthy plants.

    Diagnosing rhizoctonia root rot in cereals

    4 December 2013

    A widespread root disease caused by a soil-borne fungus and generating yield losses of 1-5% in Western Australia each year.

  • Early treatment of powdery mildew

    3 May 2016

    In 2015 powdery mildew reached damaging levels in several regions. With the green bridge leading into the 2016 season, the disease could have significant impacts.

  • Root lesion and burrowing nematodes: diagnosis and management

    10 December 2013

    Nematodes can feed on root tissues of a wide range of plant species and lead to root damage which can result in significant crop yield loss.

  • Crown rot in wheat showing white heads

    Yield loss response curve trial for crown rot 2016 trial report

    29 August 2016

    Establishing yield loss in wheat cultivars with different levels of resistance in the presence of a range of infection levels of Fusarium pseudograminearum across different environments.

  • Yellow-orange pustules are arranged in stripes along the leaf veins.

    Diagnosing stripe rust of wheat

    4 December 2013

    Stripe rust is a fungal foliar disease specific to wheat that can cause up to 60% yield loss and reduce grain quality, particularly when susceptible varieties are infected early.

     

  • Small, circular to oval pustules with orange to light brown dusty spores on upper surface of leaves.

    Diagnosing leaf rust of wheat

    4 December 2013

    Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) is a fungal leaf disease specific to wheat that can pose a significant threat to the yield and quality of Western Australian wheat crops in some seasons, cau

  • In severe cases whole plants develop white heads after flowering.

    Diagnosing crown rot of cereals

    4 December 2013

    A fungal disease most common in continuous cereal crops, which affects roots and lower stems and is usually not detected until after heading.

  • All exposed parts are affected, more on one side with spray drift

    Diagnosing contact herbicide damage in cereals

    28 November 2013

    This category includes contact herbicides from a range of chemical groups that require uniform spray coverage to be fully effective.

  • Barley plant death from Fusilade® spray drift from neighbouring lupin paddock

    Diagnosing Group A herbicide damage in cereals

    28 November 2013

    These are post-emergent grass contol herbicides used for annual ryegrass and/or wild oat control in wheat and barley or non-selective grass control in broadleaf crops.

  • Plants infected as seedlings are spindly with multiple tillers

    Diagnosing wheat streak mosaic virus

    4 December 2013

    Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) is a seed and mite-borne virus that infects cereals (including wheat and barley) and grasses.

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