• Disease was scored as being low to moderate during the two assessment intervals with the highest disease symptoms observed at the second assessment and only data from this period has been presented in this report.

• While some chickpea varieties have foliar resistance to AB (eg Genesis090), all current
  chickpea varieties are susceptible to seed staining from AB and require fungicides at the onset
  of podding, especially if disease is present. However, this will not generally result in increased
  yield.

• A good relationship between grain yield and ascochyta blight infection was identified. Grain
  yields varying from 0.2t/ha (Howzat) to 2.36t/ha (CICA1016) highlight the achievements of the
  chickpea breeding program in developing varieties with improved AB resistance.

• The mild (although dry) finish to the 2012 season suited chickpeas at this site enabling them to mature slowly and achieve relatively high yields (averaging 2.6t/ha).
• Across all varieties a 13% yield improvement from fortnightly disease control, and a 7% yield improvement from strategic control involving three applications of chlorothalonil compared to untreated plots occurred.

• A direct relationship between grain yield and ascochyta blight infection, and grain yields varying from 0.4t/ha (Howzat) to 2.45t/ha (PBA Slasher), highlight the achievements of the chickpea breeding program in developing varieties with improved ascochyta blight resistance.
• The kabuli variety Genesis090 (rated as R) has the highest level of ascochyta blight resistance of all the varieties tested in this trial, supporting previous findings.
• Despite higher levels of ascochyta blight infection, some desi varieties, including PBA Slasher, may have higher yield potential due to better general adaptation to South Australian growing environments eg earlier maturity and better tolerance to variable soil types.

• Resistant varieties will still produce excellent yields under high disease pressure and provide growers with a low risk alternative to grow chickpeas again.
• The resistant varieties Genesis 090 and Genesis 509 produce excellent yields under high disease pressure and provide growers with a low risk alternative to grow chickpeas again.

• Application of fungicide profitably increased grain yield in some field pea varieties. A new fungicide product, similar to previous seasons is showing significant reductions in disease and concurrent increase in yield compared with the more traditional industry strategy using mancozeb. Similar to other field pea trials, P-Pickel T® reduced early growth of field peas.

• Application of fungicide profitably increased grain yield in some field pea varieties. A new fungicide product, similar to previous seasons is showing significant reductions in disease and concurrent increase in yield compared with the more traditional industry strategy using mancozeb. Similar to other field pea trials, P-Pickel T® reduced early growth of field peas.

• Application of fungicide profitably increased grain yield in some field pea varieties. A new fungicide product, similar to previous seasons is showing significant reductions in disease and concurrent increase in yield compared with the more traditional industry strategy using mancozeb. Similar to other field pea trials, P-Pickel T® reduced early growth of field peas.

• The recommended field pea industry practice of P-Pickel T® (PPT) seed treatment and 2 foliar fungicides of Mancozeb (Manc.Std) failed to significantly reduce disease infection levels or increase grain yield over untreated control treatments under high blackspot disease pressure in 2016.
• Early disease control applications (four weeks after sowing) were important for reducing initial blackspot infection levels at Minnipa, conversely later spring applications were important at the higher rainfall site of Hart.
• Over two consecutive years, a yield benefit of at least 15% has been obtained from application of new experimental fungicide actives over the current industry practice treatment of two foliar sprays of Mancozeb.
• Further research is required to understand the interaction in efficacy between fungicides and timing of disease infection, together with the drivers of ascochyta blight onset and progression in different field pea growing environments.

• The recommended field pea industry practice of P-Pickel T® (PPT) seed treatment and 2 foliar fungicides of Mancozeb (Manc.Std) failed to significantly reduce disease infection levels or increase grain yield over untreated control treatments under high blackspot disease pressure in 2016.
• Early disease control applications (four weeks after sowing) were important for reducing initial blackspot infection levels at Minnipa, conversely later spring applications were important at the higher rainfall site of Hart.
• Over two consecutive years, a yield benefit of at least 15% has been obtained from application of new experimental fungicide actives over the current industry practice treatment of two foliar sprays of Mancozeb.
• Further research is required to understand the interaction in efficacy between fungicides and timing of disease infection, together with the drivers of ascochyta blight onset and progression in different field pea growing environments.

• Application of fungicide profitably increased grain yield in some field pea varieties. A new fungicide product, similar to previous seasons is showing significant reductions in disease and concurrent increase in yield compared with the more traditional industry strategy using mancozeb. Similar to other field pea trials, P-Pickel T® reduced early growth of field peas.

• The recommended field pea industry practice of P-Pickel T^® seed treatment and 2 foliar fungicides of Mancozeb failed to significantly reduce disease infection levels or increase grain yield over untreated control treatments under high blackspot disease pressure in 2016.
• Early disease control applications (four weeks after sowing) were important for reducing initial blackspot infection levels at Minnipa, conversely later spring applications were important at the higher rainfall site of Hart.
• Over two consecutive years, a yield benefit of at least 15% has been obtained from application of new experimental fungicide actives over the current industry practice treatment of two foliar sprays of mancozeb.
• Further research is required to understand the interaction in efficacy between fungicides and timing of disease infection, together with the drivers of Ascochyta blight onset and progression in different field pea growing environments.

• Weather patterns experienced early in 2015 resulted in growers in many districts being advised by DAFWA’s Blackspot Manager Prediction model to delay sowing of field peas in SA. This sowing was often out of alignment with optimal sowing times based on best agronomic practice for some districts.
• Under high disease risk situations, growers in low rainfall areas may be best suited to choose alternative break crop options to field peas to avoid significant yield losses through delayed sowing or disease infection. If field pea remains the preferred crop it is important that growers consider the current recommended fungicide strategy of PPT and Mancozeb treatments, selecting paddocks with little or no field pea history, avoiding close proximity to previous field pea stubbles, and delaying sowing as long as possible.
• Several experimental fungicides with greater efficacy than Mancozeb showed improved blackspot control and significant yield increases over the nil and Mancozeb treatments in 2015.
• Disease progression and grain yield were both reduced by dry and hot spring conditions in early October at all sites in 2015. Further evaluation is warranted in years and environments with more favourable spring conditions. Earlier application timings than the 8 week treatment used in these experiments may also be warranted, along with additional ‘spring’ treatments in longer more favourable seasons.
• A number of industry support groups have reported the economic benefit of using fungicide in controlling blackspot in field pea. Results in 2015 showed the current fungicide application strategy, using PPT and two Mancozeb applications suppressed blackspot at most sites, but previous yield benefits reported from this treatment were not realised due to the hot and dry spring conditions experienced in 2015.
• New fungicide actives and formulas being evaluated showed significant increases in efficacy for controlling blackspot compared to untreated plots and those treated with Mancozeb. Furthermore, a significant yield benefit (approx. 15%) were also identified in these treatments this year. Further trials are planned in 2016 to explore these results.

• Weather patterns experienced early in 2015 resulted in growers in many districts being advised by DAFWA’s Blackspot Manager Prediction model to delay sowing of field peas in SA. This sowing was often out of alignment with optimal sowing times based on best agronomic practice for some districts.
• Under high disease risk situations, growers in low rainfall areas may be best suited to choose alternative break crop options to field peas to avoid significant yield losses through delayed sowing or disease infection. If field pea remains the preferred crop it is important that growers consider the current recommended fungicide strategy of PPT and Mancozeb treatments, selecting paddocks with little or no field pea history, avoiding close proximity to previous field pea stubbles, and delaying sowing as long as possible.
• Several experimental fungicides with greater efficacy than Mancozeb showed improved blackspot control and significant yield increases over the nil and Mancozeb treatments in 2015.
• Disease progression and grain yield were both reduced by dry and hot spring conditions in early October at all sites in 2015. Further evaluation is warranted in years and environments with more favourable spring conditions. Earlier application timings than the 8 week treatment used in these experiments may also be warranted, along with additional ‘spring’ treatments in longer more favourable seasons.
• A number of industry support groups have reported the economic benefit of using fungicide in controlling blackspot in field pea. Results in 2015 showed the current fungicide application strategy, using PPT and two Mancozeb applications suppressed blackspot at most sites, but previous yield benefits reported from this treatment were not realised due to the hot and dry spring conditions experienced in 2015.
• New fungicide actives and formulas being evaluated showed significant increases in efficacy for controlling blackspot compared to untreated plots and those treated with Mancozeb. Furthermore, a significant yield benefit (approx. 15%) were also identified in these treatments this year. Further trials are planned in 2016 to explore these results.

• Weather patterns experienced early in 2015 resulted in growers in many districts being advised by DAFWA’s Blackspot Manager Prediction model to delay sowing of field peas in SA. This sowing was often out of alignment with optimal sowing times based on best agronomic practice for some districts.
• Under high disease risk situations, growers in low rainfall areas may be best suited to choose alternative break crop options to field peas to avoid significant yield losses through delayed sowing or disease infection. If field pea remains the preferred crop it is important that growers consider the current recommended fungicide strategy of PPT and Mancozeb treatments, selecting paddocks with little or no field pea history, avoiding close proximity to previous field pea stubbles, and delaying sowing as long as possible.
• Several experimental fungicides with greater efficacy than Mancozeb showed improved blackspot control and significant yield increases over the nil and Mancozeb treatments in 2015.
• Disease progression and grain yield were both reduced by dry and hot spring conditions in early October at all sites in 2015. Further evaluation is warranted in years and environments with more favourable spring conditions. Earlier application timings than the 8 week treatment used in these experiments may also be warranted, along with additional ‘spring’ treatments in longer more favourable seasons.
• A number of industry support groups have reported the economic benefit of using fungicide in controlling blackspot in field pea. Results in 2015 showed the current fungicide application strategy, using PPT and two Mancozeb applications suppressed blackspot at most sites, but previous yield benefits reported from this treatment were not realised due to the hot and dry spring conditions experienced in 2015.
• New fungicide actives and formulas being evaluated showed significant increases in efficacy for controlling blackspot compared to untreated plots and those treated with Mancozeb. Furthermore, a significant yield benefit (approx. 15%) were also identified in these treatments this year. Further trials are planned in 2016 to explore these results.

• New varieties have improved ascochyta resistance, but still need careful management.
• Avoiding early infection is critical to managing ascochyta effectively.
• A two spray fungicide strategy will provide reliable control.

Ascochyta rabiei can be controlled in chickpeas using chlorothalonil (Bravo). The fungicide needs to be applied early (six weeks after sowing) and be applied, at a minimum, every three weeks after the first application. Kaniva chickpeas sprayed with Bravo applied at two litres per hectare, every three weeks, produced a clean sample, free of infected grain (premium priced grain).

• The recommended industry practice of P-Pickel (PPT) seed treatment and two foliar fungicides of mancozeb failed to significantly reduce disease infection levels or increase grain yield over untreated control treatments under high blackspot disease pressure in 2016.
• Early disease control applications (four weeks after sowing) were important for reducing initial blackspot infection levels at Minnipa, conversely, later Spring applications were important at the higher rainfall site of Hart.
• Over two consecutive years, a yield benefit of at least 15% has been obtained from the application of new experimental fungicide actives over the current industry practice treatment.
• Further research is required to understand the interaction in efficacy between fungicides and timing of disease infection, together with the drivers of ascochyta blight onset and progression in different field pea growing environments.

• The recommended industry practice of P-Pickel (PPT) seed treatment and two foliar fungicides of mancozeb failed to significantly reduce disease infection levels or increase grain yield over untreated control treatments under high blackspot disease pressure in 2016.
• Early disease control applications (four weeks after sowing) were important for reducing initial blackspot infection levels at Minnipa, conversely, later Spring applications were important at the higher rainfall site of Hart.
• Over two consecutive years, a yield benefit of at least 15% has been obtained from the application of new experimental fungicide actives over the current industry practice treatment.
• Further research is required to understand the interaction in efficacy between fungicides and timing of disease infection, together with the drivers of ascochyta blight onset and progression in different field pea growing environments.

• Early disease control is important for reducing initial AB infection levels in field pea crops with a yield potential above 1.5 t/ha.
• A late fungicide spray is important to control AB in spring when rainfall is conducive to disease spread and pod and seed infection.
• Early sowing into a high disease risk window with new fungicide actives evaluated in this project, were demonstrated to have improved yield benefits over later sowing in the 2017 season.

• One or two well timed fungicide applications increased yield 10% and full control a further 15%.
• Newer fungicides were more effective at supressing ascochyta but this did not translate to increased yield.
• Further testing of new fungicides is required in more locations and seasons.

• One or two well timed fungicide applications increased yield 10% and full control a further 15%.
• Newer fungicides were more effective at supressing ascochyta but this did not translate to increased yield.
• Further testing of new fungicides is required in more locations and seasons.

• Early disease control is important for reducing initial AB infection levels in field pea crops with a yield potential above 1.5 t/ha.
• A late fungicide spray is important to control AB in spring when rainfall is conducive to disease spread and pod and seed infection.
• Early sowing into a high disease risk window with new fungicide actives evaluated in this project, were demonstrated to have improved yield benefits over later sowing in the 2017 season.

• Growers and advisers should be vigilant in applying protective fungicide sprays in chickpea and lentil crops for ascochyta blight.
• Many current and minor use permit fungicides trialed at Hart in 2017 provided good preventative control (less than 10% of plants infected) for ascochyta blight including; chlorothalonil, Aviator Xpro, Cabrio and Captan.

• Growers and advisers should be vigilant in applying protective fungicide sprays in chickpea and lentil crops for ascochyta blight.
• Many current and minor use permit fungicides trialed at Hart in 2017 provided good preventative control (less than 10% of plants infected) for ascochyta blight including; chlorothalonil, Aviator Xpro, Cabrio and Captan.

Results of preliminary tests show the fungicide has excellent activity against this fungal disease.

The potential use of the new AgrEvo fungicide in Australia will be as a single spray, six weeks after emergence, when seed treatment activity ceases.

• Environmental conditions of wet weather favoured AB disease development and allowed for evaluation of virulence of disease and susceptibility of different chickpea varieties/lines.
• The current trial established a change in susceptibility of AB pathogen in varieties previously rated as moderately resistant and resistant. This result indicates that there has been a change in virulence in the AB pathogen in chickpeas across SA. Consequently, this has resulted in all chickpea resistance ratings being revised to susceptible or moderately susceptible in the southern region.
• Application of fortnightly foliar sprays with Chlorothalonil at the registered rate of 2 L/ha ahead of rain effectively controlled AB pathogen and benefited yields similarly across all varieties irrespective of their AB category. A cost benefit analysis of this continuous protection was not carried out in the current trial and therefore the profitability of this strategy will require further evaluation.
• The current trial identified advanced breeding lines with improved level of AB resistance over the current commercial varieties such as Genesis™ 090 and PBA Slasher which are rated as being moderately resistant. These advanced breeding lines will be evaluated further and developed through our collaboration with Pulse Breeding Australia.
• Overall, chickpea production in the southern region will require close monitoring of disease together with adapting an integrated disease management strategy that incorporates agronomic practices including use of AB free seed, variety selection, use of thiram-based seed treatments and multiple foliar fungicides, maintaining adequate crop rotations with non-host crops and maintaining adequate distance from previous chickpea crops.

• The optimum agronomic sowing window for field pea coincided with high blackspot risk in many districts of South Australia in 2015.
• Under such high disease risk situations, growers in low rainfall areas may be best suited to choose alternative break crop options to field pea to avoid significant yield losses through delayed sowing or disease infection.
• Experimental fungicide treatments with greater efficacy than Mancozeb showed improved blackspot control and significant yield increases over the Nil and Mancozeb treatments in 2015. Further assessment and application approval is still required.

 

• There was no interaction between fungicide treatment and variety for grain yield across all varieties in this trial, a similar result to 2014 but opposed to that found in previous years. As in 2014 this result was surprising given the significant foliar disease infection observed in the susceptible varieties but was most likely due to the hot and very dry spring conditions which prevailed, halting disease progression and limiting grain yield. However, although interactions were not significant, it was noted that the line with the highest foliar AB infection level, Sonali, was the lowest yielding variety.
• Although a significant treatment response was observed, there was only a 0.08 t/ha yield benefit from applying a fortnightly fungicide treatment as an average across all varieties. However, previous research shows varieties rated S and MS-MR will benefit from strategic fungicide applications during the growing season to control disease.
• An update of the AB susceptibility rating for all chickpeas is under review following observations of foliar AB infection on GenesisTM 090 (rated as R) at multiple sites in SA and Victoria in 2015.
• Due to the above finding and similar reports in commercial crops in SA in 2015, it is recommended that all chickpea varieties will require monitoring through the growing season for foliar AB infection and sprayed upon detection of disease to prevent spread to pods and seeds. All current chickpea varieties are susceptible to seed staining from AB, and require application of fungicides at the onset of podding. Varieties rated as MR and MS-MR will also benefit from strategic fungicide applications during the growing season to control disease.

• A drier than average growing season in 2012 meant that there was minimal disease in this trial, and grain yield was lower than in previous seasons.
• PBA Flash outyielded Nipper by 23% in this trial, demonstrating its better suitability in shorter seasons and more marginal growing areas compared to Nipper.

• Chickpea lines (kabuli and desi) with improved ascochyta blight resistance have been commercialised to Australian Agricultural Commodities by the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
• These new varieties will require fewer fungicides applications to manage ascochyta blight disease and reduce risk.

• Returns from the production of ascochyta blight susceptible desi chickpeas in Victoria become more attractive when fungicides are applied less often. But risk of crop failure greatly increases with this practice.
• Howzat is less susceptible to ascochyta blight than current varieties and may allow good returns from a desi crop when disease pressure is low or when a limited number of fungicide applications are used.
• In the southern Wimmera ascochyta blight susceptible kabulis are still profitable, even with intensive fungicide regimes.
• Varieties with effective resistance to this disease will reduce the risk of crop loss and the costs of fungicides will be available within five years.

Ascochyta blight still has the potential to threaten a chickpea crop, as varieties available to the farmer today are still susceptible to the disease. Without a fungicide plan a chickpea crop is at risk of being devastated by ascochyta. In this trial, chickpeas that had no fungicide applied during the season had significantly lower yield than those treated with some sort of fungicide plan. Those plots treated with three fungicide applications during the year had the highest yield response (1.34t/ha and 1.39t/ha) compared to 1.1t/ha for the unsprayed control.

• The virulence of the new isolate of ascochyta blight in chickpea was assessed at Curyo and Rupanyup and confirmed to cause significant symptoms (including stem breakages) on all varieties and breeding lines.
• Grain yield loss in the most susceptible varieties and breeding lines was up to 100%, however the level of resistance in a number of kabulis including Gensis090, means that the disease can be proactively managed with fungicides to produce profitable grain yields.

• The virulence of the new isolate of ascochyta blight in chickpea was assessed at Curyo and Rupanyup and confirmed to cause significant symptoms (including stem breakages) on all varieties and breeding lines.
• Grain yield loss in the most susceptible varieties and breeding lines was up to 100%, however the level of resistance in a number of kabulis including Gensis090, means that the disease can be proactively managed with fungicides to produce profitable grain yields.

Ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould resistant red lentil variety Nipper and the green lentil. Boomer are now available for farmers (AWB Seeds). Good lentil management is beneficial in most years, irrespective of rainfall.

• The risk of blackspot is influenced by many factors of which seasonal conditions play a significant role in disease outbreak as was observed in this trial.
• Fungicide use to control blackspot is one of the strategies to minimise the disease.
• Although there was no effect of fungicide treatment on yield, previous trials have shown that crops sown into high blackspot risk and with a high yield potential can benefit from a fungicide strategy of P-Pickel T seed dressing combined with a mancozeb spray at 9 nodes growth stage followed by a second spray at early flowering.

• There appeared to be little difference in yield between applying fungicide and nil fungicide. 
• The fenugreek variety Power gave the best yield results as expected as Power is the variety for seed production and Might is a fodder variety.

Cassab lentils provided the best yield results; howerver, these results weren't consistent due to herbicide drift.

Fiesta VF is a reliable faba bean variety suitable for most areas of Victoria. Fiord, Barkool and Ascot are also good varieties for short season environments of Victoria. Ascot produces high quality grain but yields less than Fiesta VF. The later flowering variety Manafest, which is moderately resistant to chocolate spot but is susceptible to ascochyta blight, yields best in the high rainfall areas of south west Victoria.

• Due to extreme weather events there was no major effect of disease management in 2014.

• Similar to 2012 at Rupanyup, the kabuli chickpeas, both smaller and larger seed
  types were much more profitable than desi’s at Kalkee.

Fewer fungicides are needed by the new ascochyta blight resistant varieties than for the previous susceptible varieties.

• Low yields – no data.

• Early sowing generally produced the highest yield for lentils in 2007.
• Lentils varieties generally all responded similarly to plant density, in that, at the May sowing date, lower densities produced higher yields, while at the July sowing date, higher densities produced highest yields.

Paddock selection, disease management, variety selection and marketing are important to maximising profitability from lentils.

• Wider row spacings resulted in less visual symptoms of ascochyta blight and higher grain yields.
• This was particularly notable in the susceptible genoptype, Howzat.

• No disease was present in the trial this year, therefore no effects of fungicide management regime were seen.
• Trial was not harvested.

• No disease was present in the trial this year, therefore no effects of fungicide management regime were seen.
• Grain yields were less than 0.5 t/ha.