Insects and Diseases PS&C Prairie Soils & Crops Journal Foliar diseases of barley: Don’t rely on a Single Strategy from the Disease Management Toolbox

One of the main constraints to successful barley production results from foliar diseases, which destroy green leaf area and thus restrict the barley plant’s ability to set yield and fill grain. Although a range of strategies are available to control foliar and other cereal diseases, rarely does the use of a single “silver bullet ” solution provide complete protection. The main barley foliar diseases in western Canada are scald, (Rhynchosporium secalis), netted (Drechslera teres (Sacc.) Shoemaker) and spotted (Drechslera teres f. maculata Smedeg.) forms of net blotch, and spot blotch (Cochliobolus sativus (Ito & Kuribayashi) Drechs. ex Dastur). Scald, net blotch and spot blotch each have unique life cycles, and as a consequence producers need to consider a combination of strategies to provide effective and consistent long-term protection from these foliar diseases. This paper provides an overview of the holistic management of common foliar diseases of barley in western Canada, using a diverse set of management tools, and applying a growing season perspective