After the wet weather in recent weeks there have been several reports of powdery mildew in mungbeans across Queensland and northern New South Wales, and Fusarium wilt has been found in several southern Queensland crops.
Monitor crops closely for disease symptoms, and contact our plant pathologist, Lisa Kelly at [email protected] or 0477 747 040 for further information on disease diagnosis.
Powdery mildew
Early powdery mildew infection begins as small, white, fluffy colonies on the lower canopy of mungbean plants
Powdery mildew in mungbean is caused by the fungal species, Podosphaera xanthii and Erysiphe vignae. It initially appears as small white powdery spots, and can spread to cover the entire leaf surface.
Two fungicide options are currently under permit to manage the disease, including tebuconazole products (PER13979) and products containing a mixture of tebuconazole and azoxystrobin (PER82104).
The PowderyMildewMBM app from Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is available to assist growers and advisors in making fungicide management decisions. DAF and USQ researchers currently have field trials underway to further validate the app.
Further information on powdery mildew in mungbean:
- Fungicide management of mungbean powdery mildew (GRDC update)
- Make better fungicide application decisions for mungbean powdery mildew with the new PowderyMildewMBM app (GRDC update)
- Powdery mildew (Beatsheet disease image gallery)
- One crop disease, how many pathogens? Podosphaera xanthii and Erysiphe vignae nov. identified as the two species that cause powdery mildew of mungbean (Vigna radiata) and black gram (V. mungo) in Australia. Phytopathology Journal.
Fusarium wilt
Wilting in mungbean caused by Fusarium wilt
Fusarium wilt in mungbean is a soil-borne disease that affects plant roots, causing wilting and ultimately plant death.
Three field trials are currently being conducted in southern and central Queensland by DAF researchers in paddocks previously impacted by Fusarium wilt as part of DAQ1806-003RTX – Optimising mungbean yield in the northern region – Mungbean Agronomy. Different mungbean varieties have been planted into paddocks with a history of disease to determine whether there are any differences in host resistance. Results from these trials will be released in the coming months.
Further information on Fusarium wilt in mungbean:
- Have you seen this mungbean disease recently (theBeatsheet)
- Summer crop disease breakthroughs (Groundcover)
- Breeding hope arises as potential fusarium control (Groundcover)
- Mungbean diseases (GRDC Update Online)
- Fusarium (Beatsheet disease image gallery)
Photos by Lisa Kelly