Diagnosing powdery mildew in cereals

• The fungus survives as fruiting bodies on stubbles that release spores after autumn rains. Spores can spread over long distances.
• White powdery leaf infection release more wind-spread spores.
• Spore production and infection is greatest at 15 to 22°C and is retarded at temperatures above 25°C.
• Humid conditions and dense crop canopies favour the disease.
• Mildew often disappears rapidly in the higher temperatures and lower relative humidity of the spring months.

• Wheat is less likely to have levels of powdery mildew infection needing treatment than barley. Use resistant barley varieties if available.
• Fungicide seed dressings or in-furrow fungicides with foliar activity give important protection to young barley crops (up to eight weeks).
• Foliar fungicides can be used to control powdery mildew infection, application early in disease development is most effective.
• Crop rotation and stubble management are generally ineffective in controlling the disease.
• Resistance to some triazole fungicides in barley powdery mildew. If you suspect fungicide resistance is occurring, samples can be submitted for testing to the Fungicide Resistance Group at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Curtin University, Perth. Phone 08 9266 1204 or email frg@curtin.edu.au for a sample kit.

To assist in assessing the economic risk and financial costs associated with various treatment strategies go to MyEconomicTool

There may be other economic and financial implications that need to be considered when choosing a management option. These may include:

• Assess the risk of powdery mildew occurring.
• Assess the costs and benefits of taking preventative action.

• Compare the costs, benefits and risk of each management option against doing nothing.
• Ignore all previous treatment costs in assessing current management options.

• Use integrated disease management to reduce disease pressure and reliance on fungicides.

View these economic considerations in more detail.