CP 099c - Evaluation of an Integrated Disease Management System to Ascribe Risk of Downy Mildew Disease on Commercial Salad and Bulb Onion Crops in the UK. Final Report

The project will assess an integrated disease management system for the control of downy mildew in UK onion crops with minimal fungicide input. The use of ‘in field’ tests (lateral flows) will be evaluated in commercial cropping systems for their accuracy in monitoring airborne downy mildew disease transmission events. These will be used in conjunction with MILIONCAST, an environmental model which defines periods at which the crop would be at risk to onion downy mildew infection, will be used in conjunction with the tests to ascribe disease risk periods. The timed application of disease control measures (fungicide applications) will be made in response to these warnings.