Wheat
Septoria tritici
The rainy weather during April appears to have favoured early development of Septoria tritici.  Significant infection levels have been reported from various regions including Suffolk, Essex and the West Country.  Drier weather will check Septoria development somewhat but heavy rain will splash spores from existing infection onto flag leaves.  Septoria tritici has been the most serious foliar disease in the UK since the 1980s and is currently the main threat for 2008.  Any comments regarding the resistance of Robigus to Septoria tritici would be of interest to me……….

Rust
Numerous foci of natural yellow rust infection have been observed in highly susceptible ‘spreader’ varieties in our Suffolk and Lincolnshire nurseries. This infection is now moving into varieties which are known to be relatively susceptible.  Still, dewy nights keep yellow rust ‘happy’ even when it’s warm and sunny.  So far, yellow rust is appearing to be at least as significant as in 2007. All Robigus crops need to be adequately protected.

Unlike last year, brown rust has been very difficult or impossible to find.  I am sure that reports of brown rust will begin to filter through following the recent hot weather.

Mildew
Mildew prefers lush plant growth and dry soil.  The disease did not develop during the recent very wet weather but will begin to develop now that conditions are more favourable.

Stem Base Diseases
Work done at Woolpit and at other locations by Rothamsted Research suggests that inoculum levels of the take-all fungus are high.  This is most probably as a result of the wet summer of 2007.

The winter/spring weather conditions have been favourable for eyespot development.

Barley
There’s not a lot to report at the moment other than to comment that BaYMV/BaMMV symptoms were especially strong in late winter.

Mildew and brown rust levels are likely to rise in some varieties in the coming days.  Traces of yellow rust are present only in inoculated nurseries