Wheat powdery mildew is widespread across the southern region and it’s becoming more fungicide resistant. This fact sheet helps growers identify, reduce and manage the disease to maintain fungicide effectiveness.

• Wheat powdery mildew is now widespread across the southern region.
• Growers should use varieties less susceptible to the disease and employ management options that reduce the risk of resistance to fungicides developing.
• Wheat varieties with moderately susceptible to susceptible (MSS) and moderately susceptible (MS) levels of resistance reduce mildew development significantly compared with susceptible to very susceptible (SVS) varieties.
• Group 11 (QoI) fungicide resistance has increased two to three times over five seasons. Resistance is generally low in the west of the southern region and increases in the east.
• Fungicides are key to managing the disease, but their effectiveness is decreasing with wheat powdery mildew becoming increasingly resistant.
• Permitted fungicides (expiry May 2027) Legend®, Talendo® and Vivando® provide high levels of wheat powdery mildew control when applied prior to or at the first sign of infection.

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