United Kingdom
January 22, 2016
The latest disease observations from AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds research sites can be accessed in a variety of ways from February.
The publication of monitoring information is part of AHDB’s efforts to alert the industry to in-season disease pressures.
Dr Jenna Watts said: “We collect a vast amount of disease information from our variety and research site network across England and Scotland.
“By sharing our observations, we can help flag up emerging issues, such as regional disease hotspots or unanticipated disease pressures on resistant varieties.”
Web
In 2015, disease observation data was published weekly, along with timely updates from research projects assessing fusarium and sclerotinia infection risks, on cereals.ahdb.org.uk/monitoring.
Due to the success of the service, the monitoring website will, once again, be populated with regional disease-pressure information in 2016.
Blogs
In 2016, new platforms will also be exploited, including disease observations posted to an ‘Agronomy’ blog site hosted on cereals-blog.ahdb.org.uk
Dr Watt’s continued: “The blog site will be a valuable way for us to get national and regional disease developments out quickly.”
The blog site was launched last year to provide an efficient way for the AHDB regional team, monitor farmers and Nuffield Scholars to tell their stories to the world.
Email
Essential disease information will also be sent to subscribers to a new ‘disease alerts’ email service.
Dr Watt’s said: “We’ve modelled the alerts on the AHDB Aphid News which sends out aphid monitoring data regularly to over one thousand subscribers.”
People interested in receiving timely and topical disease monitoring information are asked to sign up to the alerts by emailing cereals.subscriptions@ahdb.org.uk
Twitter
Breaking disease developments will also be promoted over Twitter on the organisation’s dedicated feed @AHDB_Cereals
Be part of the disease monitoring network
The industry is also being asked to play its role in sharing important disease observations.
UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS) tracks potential shifts in UK disease populations, identifying areas of concern – particularly potential breakdown in varietal disease resistance.
The success of the service relies on infected wheat and barley leaf samples sent in by growers, agronomists, plant breeders and official trials operators.
Dr Watts said: “We are all part of the network. If you spot rusts or mildew in crops with a high disease rating, please share these findings with the UKCPVS team.”
The latest findings from UKCPVS will be reported at the annual stakeholder event on 8 March 2016 in Cambridgeshire.
Future developments
Dr Watt’s thoughts on the rise of disease management tools over recent years and their future direction were aired at the 2015 Agronomists Conference.
Watch the video
Making the most of early warning systems: Part 2 - Disease
Jenna Watts - Research Manager, AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds
At the event, Dr Watts said that advances in molecular approaches, automated spore trapping technology, increased activity at Recommended Lists trial sites and the power of social media meant disease monitoring information was becoming increasingly accurate – and this accuracy was essential for the precision needed in robust decision making.
Species
