Abstract
Although rust (caused by Puccinia purpurea) is a common disease in Australian grain sorghum crops, particularly late in the growing season (April onwards), its potential to reduce yield has not been quantified. Field trials were conducted in Queensland between 2003 and 2005 to evaluate the effect of sorghum rust on grain yield of two susceptible sorghum hybrids (Tx610 and Pride). Rust was managed from 28–35 days after sowing until physiological maturity by applying oxycarboxin (1 kg active ingredient/100 L of water/ha) every 10 days. When data were combined for the hybrids, yield losses ranged from 13.1% in 2005 to 3.2% in 2003 but differences in yield the between sprayed and unsprayed treatments were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) only in 2005. Final area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values reflected the yield losses in each year. The higher yield loss in 2005 can be attributed primarily to the early development of the rust epidemic and the higher inoculum levels in spreader plots at the time of planting of the trials.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) who funded this work as part of a postgraduate research scholarship for one of us (JAW). We also thank the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation for provision of infrastructure support and the staff of Pacific Seeds and Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia for their assistance in the provision of land, labour support and seed.
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White, J.A., Ryley, M.J., George, D.L. et al. Yield losses in grain sorghum due to rust infection. Australasian Plant Pathol. 41, 85–91 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-011-0093-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-011-0093-3