Russian wheat aphid was first found in Australian cereal crops less than a year ago and is now present in Tasmania.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Grains Research and Development Corporation has been researching ways to combat this pest, which is also present in South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales.
Corporation Disease Traits manager Lauren Du Fall is overseeing key host resistance-related experiments carried out by the South Australian Research and Development Institute and led by entomologists Greg Baker and Maarten van Helden.
“A total of 85 Australian commercial lines have been screened for Russian wheat aphid susceptibility at the seedling to tillering stage,” Dr Du Fall said.
Growers are advised to assess local risk and adopt a threshold-based management strategy.
Managing the green bridge before sowing will minimise exposure to Russian wheat aphid pressure in 2018, Dr Du Fall said.
Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
