Windborne spores of the fungus that causes blackspot in field pea are released from infected stubble early in autumn, with timing depending on summer and autumn rain. Blackspot can lead to significant crop losses when the emergence of sown field peas coincides with spore release. Blackspot Manager calculates a sowing date for when the majority of spores (~60%) have been released from field pea stubble and the risk of infection is reduced.
This blackspot manager tool is being utilised nationally for field pea crops in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. The effect of location in each of these states was ground-truthed, with stubble monitoring trials in South Australia with Jenny Davidson, New South Wales with Kurt Lindbeck and Victoria with Helen Richardson. Based on this work Blackspot Manager Model alerts are now delivered weekly in the lead up to sowing for field pea growers in WA, SA, NSW and VIC via web, SMS and direct email platforms.
To subscribe to the SMS service simply text 'Blackspot', your name and location to 0475 959 932.
To subscribe to the direct email service send an email to Blackspot.Manager@dpird.wa.gov.au