Prevención y manejo de enfermedades en cebada cervecera

Presentation by Ignacio Erreguerena, researcher at the Balcarce Integrated Unit (INTA - FCA, UNMdP). Presented within the framework of the Virtual Symposium on Wheat and Barley – Updates on Management Concepts. In barley cultivation, one of the factors that most limits production is foliar fungal diseases. These can cause yield losses of between 10 and 20% on average, with even greater losses in cases of severe infestation. In addition to yield, they can significantly affect the commercial quality of the grain, a very important characteristic when dealing with malting barley. Generally speaking, the sources of inoculum for these diseases include the seed, barley and other grass stubble, and alternative hosts. These are key considerations when discussing disease management. For all these reasons, it is important to discuss and analyze the tools and strategies for managing these and other re-emerging diseases to minimize their impact on barley production in the upcoming season. This presentation emphasizes the combination and synergy of available tools both before planting and during crop development. These tools include: selecting commercial varieties based on their disease resistance profile, seed health analysis to assess potential protection, avoiding monoculture in fields, balanced nutrition, frequent monitoring and reliable diagnosis, using proven fungicide application criteria to avoid unnecessary applications, application quality, selecting active ingredients in mixtures according to the target pathogen, and rotating fungicides to prevent the development of resistance or loss of sensitivity.