Australia
August 244, 2015

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is calling for grower assistance in identifying the strains of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) present in the key cropping areas of New South Wales and Queensland.

A GRDC-funded project being conducted by the University of New England (UNE), University of Tasmania and CSIRO aims to develop wheat varieties that are resistant to BYDV. Part of the project involves the identification of strains of BYDV which are present in cropping areas.

BYDV is an occasional disease in most northern NSW and Queensland regions but can be common in higher rainfall and mixed cropping areas.

It can affect barley, oats, wheat and triticale but is most obvious in oats, with symptoms of poor growth, stunting and red to yellow discolouration of leaves occurring in patches or on single plants.

Growers with crops affected by BYDV are being asked to submit samples to UNE for disease testing.

The sampling procedure involves collecting a tiller from at least six individual affected plants, preferably separated by a metre if possible, and another six or more normal plants to use as controls. If aphids are present, growers should record their colour before destroying them.

For transporting, tillers should be shortened back to approximately 30cm including the base then wrapped in moist newspaper (identifying which is diseased), and posted to: Dr Mark Schwinghamer, Agronomy and Soil Science, University of New England, NSW 2351.

Background information on the crop should be included in the package. Sender information forms and sampling instructions are available on the UNE website www.une.edu.au/about-une/academic-schools/school-of-environmental-and-rural-science/research/plant,-soil-and-environment-systems/bydv.

Further information is available by contacting Dr Schwinghamer on 02 6773 3627 or email mschwing@une.edu.au, or Craig Birchall on 0427 732 721 or email craig.birchall@une.edu.au

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: August 24, 2015