IMPORTANCE OF SOIL-BORNE DISEASES TO THE GRAINS INDUSTRY AND ROLE OF PREDICTA B AS A MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH TOOL

PREDICTA B IS a DNA-based soil testing service that was developed to provide growers with information on a comprehensive range of soil-borne pathogens before crops are planted. This is the best time to make management decisions to minimise yield losses. The service was initially developed to support grain producers and has been adapted to support the potato and onion producers. Research is currently underway to broaden the application to include vegetable, grape and sugar industries. A sugar research project is currently being funded to develop and deliver calibrated tests for Pachymetra chaunorhiza and Pratylenchus zeae. The relative importance of soil borne diseases can change as farming systems evolve. An economic impact report from 2009 indicates root lesion nematodes and crown rot are currently the most important soil-borne diseases of wheat in Australia. A similar study in 1988 found that cereal cyst nematode and take-all were the most important. Some diseases are important nationally (e.g. crown rot and take-all) while others have localised distribution, such as rhizoctonia root rot and specific species of root lesion nematode. Such variation highlights the need for a PreDicta B service to help growers minimise the risk of unexpected yield losses. Maps of PreDicta B results over time can show the impact of changed farming systems on soil-borne pathogens (e.g. cereal cyst nematode). To date the greatest benefit of PreDicta B to growers has been the use of the technology to assess research trials to monitor treatment effects on target pathogens, beneficial organisms and crop root growth.