Regency Bread Wheat

- Late Fungicides and General Observations

Recent inspections of many Regency crops around north, mid and south Canterbury confirm that Regency is proving to be a strong agronomic performer, showing generally good disease resistance and straw strength across a range of potential yield sites from 6 –10 t/ha.

Regency has responded positively to a range of management techniques that growers are using to manipulate tiller numbers and produce healthy strong and vigorous crops that are set to exploit the grain filling period ahead.

Small amounts of mildew have been observed and easily managed in crops around the Methven area.  A little speckled leaf blotch was observed earlier in coastal heavy soil types and 2-3 paddocks have shown minor symptoms of stripe rust which appears to be being contained by the plants own high level of resistance to those races present.

Late Fungicides

While Regency has good disease resistance, and so needs lower levels of disease control fungicides, the extended green leaf duration effect of strobilurins produces economic benefits in most circumstances. 

Research in Canterbury shows that one application at label rates increases yield about 8-10% in the absence of disease across a range of cultivars, seasons and yield potentials.  Regency should respond similarly.

(i.e  Regency @ $315/t, giving a gross increase of up to $220/ha @7t/ha yield to $283/ha @9t/ha yield

To prevent possible development of late diseases and gain the benefits of extended green leaf duration a mix of a trialzole and strobilurin fungicides is recommended.

Total rates and proportions should be adjusted to take into account any previous fungicide applications and current crop health.  Mostly strobilurins if the crop is healthy or a balance if the crop shows signs of disease.

This last fungicide should be applied at ear emergence if previous ones have been applied or between flag leaf and ear emergence if none have been applied previously.

Regency has good resistance to fusarium head scab and black point and sprouting.

Late Nitrogen

Current indications of high yields this year mean that protein levels may be reduced if not enough late nitrogen has applied.  Approximately  40-80 kgN/ha should be applied between ear emergence and flowering to maintain high protein levels.

Ross Hanson, Crop & Food Research, ph.025 535 507

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Last updated: 30 November 2001