London, UK, 2 October 2009 – The latest research is showing that Light Leaf Spot (LLS), which can cause yield losses in oilseed rape of up to 1.5t/ha, has escaped the confines of Scotland and the north of England to attack crops in the south.
This is revealed in the latest Rothamsted Research ‘risk forecast’, which shows the worst affected region in 2008/09 was the South West, where 64% of OSR crops had more than a quarter of plants infected. This compares with 25% in 2007 and 15% in 2006.
There is a similar picture in East Anglia, where the incidence of the disease has more than doubled from 5% in 2006 to more than 12% this year. In Scotland, however, the incidence has fallen from 76% in 2007 to 48% in 2008/9.
This year growers at risk have an alternative high quality tebuconazole fungicide to choose from: Rotam’s new Toledo. They are being urged to spray crops to control the disease in late November/early December and repeat the treatment at early stem extension.
“Specially concentrated and with a high level of activity and crop safety, Toledo’s key benefits at the autumn spray timing are targeted light leaf spot control and manipulation of the canopy structure, to help ensure the optimum leaf area for light interception as the crop moves into the spring growing season,” said Graham Dickinson, Rotam’s Regional Manager for the UK and Northern Europe.
First indications of Light Leaf Spot are usually seen as large mealy blotches with a pinkish white centre and white spore droplets around the lesions in late November. By spring, plants heavily infected plants could be stunted and will produce weak growth at stem extension, with secondary spread occurring throughout the life of the crop.
Mr Dickinson pointed out that action to control the plant disease was vital because it could cause yield losses of up to 1.5t/ha, at an estimated cost of between £15 million and £39 million a year.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Rotam CropSciences Inc. conducts fully integrated research and development, registration, manufacturing, marketing and technical support on a worldwide basis. It operates in 56 countries including the major agricultural markets of EU, Brazil and NAFTA.
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