Effects of fungicide seed dressings and fungicide-treated fertiliser on the severity of leaf diseases and yield of barley in Western Australia

Abstract

Standard and increased rates of seed dressings with triadimenol, flutriafol and experimental formulations of flutriafol, and triadimefon and flutriafol coated on double superphosphate and drilled at sowing were assessed for control of leaf diseases of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Stirling). Scald, (Rhynchosporium secalis (Oud.) Davis), powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei March.) and Drechslera verticillata (O'Gara) Shoem. appeared in various experiments. Fungicide-coated fertilisers provided the most disease control for the longest duration, triadimefon coated fertiliser increasing yield by up to 30%. Fungicide-treated fertilisers therefore show great promise in increasing the level and duration of disease control as well as the yield of barley where foliar diseases are known to be a problem.