Managing barley leaf rust By Roslyn Jettner, Development Officer, Kithsiri Jayasena, Plant Pathologist and Jackie Bucat, Development Officer, Agriculture Western Australia Leaf rust has emerged as a potential threat for barley production on the South Coast and Great Southern regions of Western Australia. Puccinia hordei making it more virulent on barley varieties presently grown in Western Australia. Why manage this disease Leaf rust is a serious disease of barley.
Management is critical, as the disease can reduce grain size as well as grain yield.
Experimental results in 1998 have indicated a 30 per cent reduction in yield associated with a severe infection in the Green Range area. Rust infection can lead to higher levels of screenings and the downgrading of a malt variety to feed grade. Disease build-up can increase the level of inoculum carryover to the following season. Symptoms Barley leaf rust appears as rusty coloured spore masses on the upper surface of leaves. They are similar in appearance to wheat rust but have smaller pustules making them more difficult to see.