THE latest national blackleg resistance rating guide for canola varieties were released this week and will soon be available online, allowing growers to make informed decisions of which variety to grow this season to provide the best possible protection of their crops against canola’s most serious disease.
A new feature of the 2010 rating guide is, where possible, a separate disease resistance rating is provided to show the disease resistance when fungicide is applied to the seed.
The ratings cover all current commercial varieties, including conventional types, juncea canola, and all herbicide tolerant types. This year an industrial mustard variety is included for the first time.
Blackleg resistance rating coordinator, Steve Marcroft, advised growers to keep their canola varieties up to date, to avoid being hit hard by blackleg.
“Only use currently available varieties because populations of the blackleg fungus change from year to year,” he said.
Blackleg resistance ratings are determined by detailed assessment of 14 variety trials across Australia prior to windrowing. The assessment is funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
Copies of the latest ratings will soon be available on the websites of the Australian Oilseeds Federations, the GRDC and nvtonline.
Email a friend