To develop reliable and efficient field trial protocols to determine the tolerance (nematode effect on yield) of new varieties to Pratylenchus neglectus, P. thornei and CCN plus calibrate the bioassays used to screen varieties for resistance (the effect a variety has on nematode levels in soil).

• Yield losses caused by Pratylenchus are still being defined, in the meantime growers should focus on implementing management strategies to reduce impact of Rhizoctonia; most of these also reduce impact of Pratylenchus.
• Cereal cyst nematode (CCN) is a potential risk this year, particularly in continuous cereal paddocks with high frequency of susceptible varieties e.g. Wyalkatchem.
• Take-all risk is also increasing in continuous cereal and cereal/grassy pasture rotations; this is driven by above average growing seasons on Eyre Peninsula for the past few seasons.
• Field trials are underway to assess the yield losses caused by Pratylenchus in current varieties. Results of the first trials indicate yield losses caused by Pratylenchus in 2011 were relatively small; this program is continuing to determine if losses are higher in different seasons.
• Pratylenchus multiplication varies between varieties, check the 2012 Cereal Variety Disease Guide for the latest resistance ratings. Note; some barley varieties are better hosts for P. neglectus than previously thought.

Wheat was sown on 24 May at 180 plants/m2 and barley at 145 plants/m2 , with 50 kg/ ha DAP. • Treatments - 29 wheat and 4 barley varieties were sown in split plots with high and low levels of P. thornei. • Measurements – yield plus initial and final nematode numbers per gram of soil.