2007/2008 SURVEY: AUTUMN ASSESSMENT 2007

Stems and pods of twenty-five plants from each surveyed crop were assessed visually at pod ripening for symptoms of disease.

• The incidence of crops affected by Phoma leaf spot was lower than the previous year with 61.0% affected compared to 90.0%. The proportion of plants affected was also lower than in the previous year with 11.8% affected, compared to 36.0%. Phoma was found in all regions. This is the lowest autumn incidence since 1992.
  
  
• Alternaria was recorded in all regions except the Midlands & West. The incidence of Alternaria leaf spot was similar to the previous year with 15.0% crops affected, compared with 16.0%. The highest incidence was recorded in the South Western region where 50.0% of crops were affected, which is consistent with previous trends. Severity of the disease was low, with only trace levels found.
  
  
• The incidence of Downy mildew was lower than in the previous year with 7.0% crops and 0.6% plants affected, compared to 22.0% crops and 3.7% plants. This is the lowest incidence recorded since the survey began. Downy mildew was found only in the Eastern and Northern regions.
  
  
• Light leaf spot was not found in any surveyed crop. This is the third occasion, since the autumn assessments began in 1990, on which it has not been recorded in the autumn. Previous occasions were the 1998/1999 and 2003/2004 surveys.
  
  
• Powdery mildew, ring spot, Botrytis and white leaf spot were not found in any surveyed crop.
  
  

Incidence of diseases on the pods - % plants affected

Incidence of diseases on the stems - % plants affected

Regional incidence of diseases on the pods - % plants affected

Regional incidence of diseases on the stems - % plants affected