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Introduction
Effective disease management relies on the combination of variety selection with the best profile of disease resistance, the most suitable paddock, clean seed, canopy management and agronomic practices, as well as the strategic use of foliar fungicides.
Physical damage to the crop from machinery travelling over the paddock can be a major cause of disease or poor grain quality. Consider, 'tram lining' and controlled traffic.
| Factor | Best practice |
|---|---|
| Paddock history |
A minimum of 2 years break between lentil crops. (View Diseases and potential for cross infection from other pulses under Disease Management for pulse disease hosts). |
| Paddock hygiene | Select paddocks at least 500 m from last year's crop stubble if infected with disease |
| Variety | Select a variety with suitable level of disease resistance for your district |
| Seed source | Use seed from crops that are disease free, especially at podding, or with known freedom from disease infection - laboratory seed tests can confirm disease levels |
| Sowing time | Minimise the risk of foliar disease development due to excessive vegetative growth. Do not sow too early - early emergence leads to early canopy closure, which increases the susceptibility to foliar disease |
| Sowing rate | Higher seeding rates and plant populations greater than 120 plants per square metre result in the increased risk of disease due to denser crop canopy growth |
| Row spacing | Wider rows delay canopy closure, reducing the risk of botrytis grey mould. But an increased risk of lodging may increase the chance of botrytis grey mould |
| Fungicide application |
Seed: Treatment with a thiram + thiabendazole product will reduce disease transmission by seed and help control ascochyta, botrytis and seedling root rots Foliar: Most effective on disease susceptible varieties when applied before or at first signs of disease. Protection lasts for 10-12 days, but new growth is unprotected. Ongoing protection requires additional sprays applied prior to rain |
| Aphid control | Early detection and control can reduce spread of virus, but spread often occurs as control too late. Cultural practices like Summer weed control, crop density, stubble and minimising bare soil become important in reducing the presence of aphids |
| Harvest management | Early harvest will reduce disease infection on the seed |