United Kingdom
January 22, 2018
The unpredictability of light leaf spot (LLS) means this oilseed rape (OSR) disease is more challenging to forecast than phoma, according to a new final report.
The AHDB-funded phoma forecast gives a date when 10 per cent of OSR plants, generally regarded as the treatment threshold, are expected to show disease symptoms at a range of monitoring sites. At present, LLS is unable to be forecast in this way.
Currently, the LLS forecast is issued in autumn, with an update in spring. The forecast estimates the proportion of OSR with more than 25 per cent of plants expected to be affected by the disease in the spring. The forecast, therefore, provides general information on risk but not treatment threshold dates.
The new report outlines work that used models of LLS development to establish the potential of improving the LLS forecast to provide an early warning of the onset of LLS epidemics.
As part of the research, spore samples were taken from, and disease observations made at, sites across England and Scotland to provide in-field data to test the accuracy of the model predictions.
One of the most striking findings was that large quantities of LLS spores were produced from May onwards, much earlier in the season than previously reported. Spores were also continuously released throughout the summer.
The continuous nature of spore release means, in theory, infection can occur at any time once the crop has emerged. It also means the current LLS forecast can’t be improved, at present, because it requires a defined start date for spore release.
As symptoms are not seen early in the season, it raises questions about the epidemic cycle. It could be that there are resistance factors which help protect young crops but further investigation is required to confirm if this or other factors are involved.
Further information
Investigating components of the oilseed rape light leaf spot epidemic responsible for increased yield loss to the UK arable industry (Project Report 587)
Fungicide performance information
Leaf spot surveys
More questions than answers for LLS (CPM article)
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