Prediction modelling of soilborne plant diseases

The use of models for predicting disease occurrence or for providing decisi on support packages to manage soilborne plant diseases offers many potentia l benefits for reducing the impact of disease, particularly through better targeting of resources required for implementing control strategies. The de velopment of such packages has been very limited, particularly when compare d to what is available for the leaf diseases, and this is most probably due to the greater complexity of the soil environment. A take-all prediction m odel has been developed which estimates inoculum level, disease occurrence, crop yields and economic outcomes based on a range of environmental, manag ement and financial options. The model has been adopted by industry and is made available to growers through a network of accredited agronomists. The features of the take-all model and its potential as a platform for the deve lopment of other soilborne disease models are discussed.