Canola sclerotinia update and managing late infections
- Geraldton
- Northampton
- Esperance
Over the past week canola sclerotinia stem infections have been observed in the north and south coastal areas of Western Australia.
DPIRD’s crop protection officer Bonnie Jupp has reported finding sclerotinia stem lesions on leaves and stems in a canola crop near Geraldton.
Amery Drage (Grower) has reported seeing stem infections in his late flowering canola near Northampton.
Sam Fetherstonhaugh (Landmark) has tweeted about finding sclerotinia stem infection in a canola crop near Esperance
Canola pathologist Ravjit Khangura says sclerotinia symptoms usually become more apparent as the weather starts warming up. However, relatively dry weather experienced over the past couple of weeks may have prevented any further disease progression.
Most canola crops around the state are likely to have grown past the spraying window (30-50% bloom) so growers are reminded that late spraying is not recommended.
Research conducted by DPIRD has shown that there are no economic returns from late fungicide applications (70-80% bloom).
With flowering nearly finishing on the main stem any further main stem infections are unlikely to occur, however infected petals from lateral branches may cause some degree of branch infection. These late infections (stem or branch) normally do not cause significant impact on yield. Heavy losses from branch infections can only occur if wet and humid conditions prevail throughout the flowering period.
Further information can be found at;
- The department’s Managing sclerotinia stem rot in canola page
- The department’s Protecting WA Crops Issue 5 newsletter Sclerotinia stem rot
- GRDC’s Managing sclerotinia in canola YouTube video.
For more information contact Ravjit Khangura, Research Officer, South Perth on +61 (0)8 9368 3374.