Could barley seeds be undermining efforts to control crop disease?

Key points

• Queensland researchers have found that barley seed can carry fungicide-resistant net blotch into new crops. A University of Southern Queensland study found the disease can move from infected seed into developing seedlings.
• Researchers tested seedlots from grower fields across the Darling Downs and detected net blotch DNA in 13 of them. Lead researcher Dr Noel Knight said growers should consider where their planting seed comes from.
• The findings do not change existing recommendations, and further studies are planned.