SOUTHERN NSW growers should expect to see rust in most cereal varieties this year.
This does not necessarily mean crops will need spraying but they will have to be regularly monitored.
That's the advice of NSW Industry and Investment agronomist Janet Walker, of Albury.
Speaking at a Riverina cropping forum, Mrs Walker said the main rust prevalent last year was the Jackie pathotype.
She said a high proportion of rust detected was the Yr17 pathotype, particularly later in the season.
"In some areas, tobruk triticale had high levels of rust infection after head emergence, and high levels of head infection caused yield loss," Mrs Walker said.
"The number of new rust pathotypes mean a new cereal variety with rust resistance may not stay that way."
The early-season wheat varieties of beaufort and ega gregory had reasonable rust resistance and performed well in southern NSW national variety trials at Gerogery.
"In the NVT trials at Lockhart, gregory was a stand-out, early-season variety with high yields and a reasonably good rust rating," Mrs Walker said.
"In the main-season varieties, livingston and lincoln have moderately resistant rust ratings and performed well in trials."
