* Abstract

* Uses of MoreCrop

* History

* MoreCrop Developers

* Downloads

* Barley Disease

* MoreCrop

Roland F. Line, Ramon M. Cu, and Don E. Mathre
USDA-ARS
Wheat Genetics Physiology
and Disease Research Unit
P.O. Box 646430
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6430

Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana

Comments and questions about MoreCrop send email to: morecrop@listproc.wsu.edu

MoreCrop for barley is an expert system for predicting and managing diseases of barley in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of North America. It utilizes the concepts and principles that were used in developing MoreCrop for wheat. The program is referred to by the acronym MoreCrop (Managerial Options for Reasonable Economical Control of Rusts and Other Pathogens). MoreCrop is designed to provide disease managerial options in regions, agronomic zones, and districts of the PNW. MoreCrop provides information, options, and suggestions for making decisions regarding management of barley diseases. It predicts diseases and provides disease control information based on geographical regions, agronomic zones, crop managerial practices, cultivar characteristics, field and disease history, and prevailing weather. MoreCrop can use past managerial decisions to reconstruct disease conditions, help you decide what disease control option to select, and provide disease and cultivar-related information for research, extension, education.

MoreCrop uses the classical disease triangle as the overriding principle in predicting a disease outcome. This means that a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and favorable environmental conditions must exist for the disease to develop and cause damage to the crop. The MoreCrop for barley was adapted from the MoreCrop model for wheat, which was initiated as an expansion of earlier guidelines for integrated control of rusts and other diseases. MoreCrop for barley is based on more than 40 years of data on crop management, epidemiology, and control of rusts, smuts and other diseases. Information from other plant pathologists and crop scientists was also utilized. The program was developed specifically for the PNW, but the principles and concepts also apply to other regions of the world and to the other crops, and the program served as a prototype in developing a total crop managerial program for barley.

This reference manual describes the installation procedure and provides a tutorial that could guide you through the entire program environment of MoreCrop. You can follow a guided tour into MoreCrop's features and capabilities including the library of information important for managing barley diseases. We strongly advise you to practice on the tutorial section before using MoreCrop for your own managerial decision.

Before attempting to install MoreCrop, be sure your system meets the minimum requirement to support the software. MoreCrop requires the following:

• PC with Pentium or compatible processor, running in Windows 95 or later
• 16 MB of RAM minimum
• Video monitor supporting 24 bit display
• 8.8 MB of hard disk space

MoreCrop for Barley may be down loaded from the internet http://pnw-ag.wsu.edu/MoreCrop/Barley. The download procedure will automatically install MoreCrop for barley into your system and will automatically add the MoreCrop icon in your program menu.

From the START button of Windows 95 or Windows 98, select program and click on MoreCrop for Barley.

The Program Environment
The first More Crop screen consists of a desktop with a title heading showing the menus of topics below the title heading, and command buttons labeled INITIALIZED, RUN and QUIT. The INITIALIZE button is used to setup the program variables and define the crop managerial scenario. Initialization is necessary before you can run the program. The use of the initialization will be explained at the later stage. The RUN button evaluates the selected managerial scenario in order to predict a disease outcome. You must define all of the variables in order to develop a valid managerial scenario. The QUIT button is used to end MoreCrop.

The menu topics are Region, Agro-Zone, Crop Mgmt, Cultivar, Weather, Field Characteristics and Library. The Region menu consists of items labeled Regions 1 to Region 7. Clicking on the Region menu will show the seven regions. A brief description of each geographical region is available in a dialog box when the region is selected.

• Click on the Region menu.
• Select Region 1. Information about the region appears in a dialog box
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

The Agro-Zone/ District menu refers to the agronomic zones or districts in the PNW and consists of items labeled Zone 1 to Zone 5 if Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 is selected. District 1 to District 2 if Region 2 is selected from the Region menu. Clicking on the Agro-Zone menu will show the five items labeled Zone 1 to Zone 5. A brief description of each agronomic zone is available in a dialog box when the zone is selected.

• Click on the Agro-Zone menu.
• Select Zone 1. Information about the selected zone appears in a dialog box.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

A map of geographical regions of North America is available by pressing the F2 key. Information about each region is available by clicking on the region of the map. A map for the agronomic zones of the PNW is available by pressing the F3 key. Information about each agronomic zone is available by clicking on the legend color code of the map. A map for the districts of Region 2 is available by pressing the F4 key. All the maps are also in the Library.

• Press F2 to display the geographical regions of North America. If F2 does not respond or show the map, press the ESC key to close any dialog box that may still be active and press F2 again.
• Click on the circled area with the region number to display information about that region.
• Click on the OK button and the EXIT button to close the display.
• Press F3 to display the agronomic zones of the PNW. If F3 does not respond or show the map, press the ESC key to close any dialog box that may still be active and press F3 again.
• Click on the color code in the legend box to see a display information about the zone.
• Click on the EXIT button to close the display.
• Press F4 to display the districts of Region 2. If F4 does not respond or show the map, press the ESC key to close any dialog box that may still be active and press F4 again.

Crop managerial practices include planting (date, depth & source of seed), crop rotation, irrigation, tillage practices, and soil fertility management. Click on the Crop Mgmt menu to show the managerial options. Do not select a managerial option yet. You will explore this part of the program later. Press the ESC key or click on the empty part of the desktop to close the menu.

• Click on the Crop Mgmt menu to view the various items under Crop Mgmt. Do not select any of the managerial options at this time.
• Press the ESC key to close the menu.

The Cultivar menu contains the barley cultivars listed as either winter or spring barley. Click on the Cultivar and select spring barley to display the different categories of spring barley. Select malting barley to list cultivars under that category. Do not select a cultivar yet. You will explore this part of the program later. Click on the CANCEL button to close the list of cultivars.

• Click on the Cultivar menu and select spring barley.
• Select malting as the category of spring barley and scroll through the different cultivars under this category.
• Click on the CANCEL button to close the list of cultivars.

The Weather menu is divided into summer, early fall, late fall, winter, early spring, and late spring. You do not need to select the weather conditions to run the program. The geographical region and the agronomic zone that you will select have a default setting based on historical records. If the weather deviates from the historical norm for the region and agronomic zone, you can select the condition that best describes that weather.

• Click on the Weather menu.
• Select the season to view the possible conditions that may occur.
• Change the setting of any season by clicking on the most appropriate weather condition.

The Field Characteristics menu includes Field Topography and Disease History of the area or specific field. Field Topography allows the user to describe the field in terms of drainage and topography. Possible choices under Field Topography are low-wet, hilly and well drained, and flat and well drained. Disease History is linked to the region and agronomic zone that are selected. Disease History has a default setting based on historical records that puts a check in front of each disease that commonly occurs in the selected region and agronomic zone. Adding or removing the disease can change the default setting.

• Click on the Field Characteristics menu
• Select Disease History to view the default disease setting in the region and agronomic zone that you selected. You may click on the boxes to check or uncheck the presence of a disease in the area.
• Click on the OK button to close Disease History.

The Library menu contains maps, growth stages, barley cultivars, diseases, stripe rust races, and other information related to barley disease management. Maps of both the geographical regions and the agronomic zones are accessible using the Library menu. Growth stages of barley are graphically represented using the Feekes, Zadoks-basic, and Zadoks-expanded scales. Open the Library menu to view the subjects available. Selecting the "Growth Stages." item provides a graphical representation of barley growth stages. You may click on any of the scale descriptions (Zadoks B Scale, Zadoks E Scale, or Feekes Scale). You may also click on any of the scale numbers in order to get information of the growth stage.

• Click on the Library menu.
• Click on "Growth Stages".
• Click on the text "Zadoks B Scale".
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on the scale "8" of the Feekes Scale.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on the EXIT button to go back to the previous MoreCrop window.

Defining the MoreCrop Parameters
To run MoreCrop, follow the pre-defined managerial scenario in order to keep in sync with the discussion. To start the program, click on the INITIALIZE button. A frame with a list of variables to define appears on the lower left-hand corner of the desktop. The variables that must be defined are Region, Agro-Zone, Fall/spring seeded, Planting, Crop Rotation, Irrigation, Tillage Practices and Cultivar. The list of variables serves two purposes. First, it lists the variables that must be defined in order to run the program. Second, it provides information about the defined variables. Information about the variable or instructions on how to define the variables are available by clicking on that variable listed in the frame labeled "Variables to define."

• Click on the INITIALIZE button. A frame appears with a list of variables to define.
• Click on Region in the frame labeled "Variables to define."
• A dialog box appears with brief information about regions.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on Agro-Zone in the frame labeled "Variables to define."
• A dialog box appears with brief information about agronomic zones.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

Each variable in the frame is an "object" with property unique to itself. The object contains information about the variable it represents, the status of the variable, or instructions on how to define the variable. You may click on any of the variables in the frame. Be sure to close the dialog box by clicking on the OK button before clicking on another variable.

• Click on any other item in the frame.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

Define the variables (objects) in the frame by selecting the appropriate item from the topic menu. To define Region, click on the Region menu, and select Region 1 from the menu. Note. Region in the frame is now defined as Region 1 and appears in bold type. Region 1 (formerly Region) in the frame has a different property from Region. If you click on Region 1, a dialog box with a brief description of that region is displayed. The information about Region 1 is different from the information about the undefined variable Region. Close the dialog box by clicking on the OK button.

• Click on the Region menu.
• Select Region 1. The variable Region in the frame now appears as Region 1.
• Click on Region 1 in the frame.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

Define the variable Agro-Zone by clicking on the Agro-Zone menu, and select Zone 2. As with the variable Region, note that the variable Agro-Zone is defined as Zone 2, and appears in bold type. If you click on Zone 2, a dialog box with a brief description of that zone is displayed. The information about Zone 2 is different from the information before it was defined. Close the dialog box by clicking on the OK button.

• Click on the Agro-Zone menu.
• Select Zone 2. The variable Agro-Zone in the frame now appears as Zone 2.
• Click on Zone 2 in the frame.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

Define the Planting by clicking on the Crop Mgmt menu, and selecting the first item in the menu (Planting). A frame appears containing sets of buttons for seed source, seeding time, and planting depth. The planting date option appears as a horizontal scroll bar with an instruction to move the bar by clicking on the arrows on either end or by dragging the bar to either end. As you move the bar from the earliest to the latest end, the approximate is indicated on top of the scroll bar. Keep the default settings for seed source (produced under dry condition), seeding time (spring seeded), and planting depth (shallow). Set the planting date by positioning the bar at April 1 to 10. In the spring-seeded barley, the planting date ranges from mid February to early June.

• Click on the arrow of the scroll bar to move the bar at April 1 to 10.
• Click on the NEXT button to bring the next item (crop rotation) from the Crop Mgmt menu

The crop rotation frame appears listing the various crop rotation options. Select continuous barley and click on the NEXT button to bring irrigation options.

• Select continuous barley from the crop rotation options.
• Click on the NEXT button.

The irrigation options appear in a list with four irrigation schedules. These options include 1) No irrigation, 2) Pre-Plant irrigation, 3) Early season irrigation, and 4) Full season irrigation. These option buttons allow you to make only one selection at a time. If you make a new selection, it replaces the previously selected item. Selecting either early season or full irrigation displays the rill and sprinkler irrigation delivery systems to choose from.

• Click on the Early Season option to indicate that you have provided early season irrigation to your field. Leave sprinkler as the default delivery system of irrigation.
• Click on the NEXT button to bring the next item (Tillage) from the Crop Mgmt menu.

Tillage practices appear with three options, Conventional or full tillage, Reduced tillage, and No-till. Click on the Conventional option button to select it.

• Click on the Conventional option button.
• Click on the NEXT button to bring the next item (Soil Fertility Management) from the Crop Mgmt menu.

The frame for soil fertility management appears with scroll bars that indicate the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as well as the source of nitrogen (nitrate N or ammonium N). Soil fertility management is not required to run the program and is not listed as a variable. The information from soil fertility management is used only when available and when the program needs it. In certain situations, it may improve the degree of confidence in determining a disease outcome. For this demonstration, the soil fertility management will not be changed. Click on the OK button to close all frames.

• Click on the OK button in the Soil Fertility Management frame.

Note. All of the variables except Cultivar are now in bold type. Click on any of the variables for information about their current status. Be sure to close each dialog box by clicking on the OK button.

• Click on any variable in the variable list.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

Cultivar is the last variable to define. Click on the Cultivar menu to view the types of barley. If fall seeding was selected previously in the Planting menu, winter barley can be selected. If spring seeding was selected in the Planting menu, spring barley can be selected. However, early planting (Feb. 21 to march 10) in spring may allow winter barley selection. Select spring barley. Classes of spring barley are listed as malting, non-malting, hooded, and hulless. Select malting and choose the cultivar "Morex" by clicking on it. Click on the OK button to accept the selected cultivar. A dialog box appears with Morex as the title heading. The dialog box contains brief information about the cultivar such as its origin, class, date released, and maturity. Click OK to close the dialog box.

• Click on the Cultivar menu.
• Select spring barley and choose malting.
• Choose the cultivar "Morex" by clicking on it.
• Click on the OK button to accept the selected cultivar.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box containing cultivar information.

Note. The variable Cultivar has become Morex and appears in bold type. Click on Morex to view the information related to the cultivar.

• Click on Morex in the variable list for information about the cultivar.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

Disease Prediction Output
The first inference engine "Predictor" handles disease outcome. The program provides a list of diseases that may occur and highlights in bold type those diseases that are more likely to occur based on the selected crop managerial practices. The results of the predictive output are displayed in an output window. The rationale for each disease outcome and possible control practices are also provided.

Now, you are ready to run the first part of the program. Make sure all variables in the frame are in bold type. The bold type indicates that the variable has been defined. Click on the RUN button to get a predictive disease output.

• Click on the RUN button.

After clicking on the RUN button, the output window in two panes will appear. The upper pane contains a list of diseases that can occur, and highlights in bold type those diseases that are likely to occur. The lower pane lists the reasons why a disease should occur based on the region, agronomic zone, managerial practices, cultivar, prevailing weather, and disease history. The confidence factor shown for each disease in the lower pane is expressed as a percent for each disease outcome, and is based on a weighted value for the environmental parameters and / or managerial options that are conducive for disease development.

The diseases in the upper pane are linked to information about the disease status. If the disease is in bold type (meaning the disease is more likely to occur), it is linked to information about cultural and / or chemical control options. If the disease is not in bold type (meaning the disease is less likely to occur), it is linked to the rationale for that disease outcome.

• Scroll down the lower pane to view the reasons why a specific disease is more likely to occur. Note the confidence factor at the end of each disease. The highest values indicate that disease has a greater possibility of being severe.
• Click on any disease in bold type to get information related to disease control suggestions.
• Click on the OK button to close the information box.
• Click on any disease that is not in bold type to see the rationale for that disease outcome.
• Click on the OK button to close the information box.

The upper pane of the output window may respond differently to clicking of the mouse using the left and right buttons of the mouse. Clicking on the diseases listed in the upper pane, whether they are in bold type or not, is normally done using the left mouse button. Clicking on the right mouse button shows high-resolution images of the disease.

• Click on any disease listed in the output window using the right mouse button.
• Click on the OK button to close the disease image.

The right side of the upper pane contains the control buttons for EXIT, RERUN and IDM. The EXIT button is used to exit from the current window and return to the previous window so that you can reselect regions, zones and the managerial options. You may also change some of the managerial options by using the menu in the current window and clicking on the RERUN button to update the output window

• Click on the EXIT button.
• Click on the Cultivar menu.
• Select spring barley and choose the non-malting class.
• Click on the cultivar Steptoe.
• Click on the OK button to close the information box.
• Click on the RUN button.

Stripe rust, powdery mildew, net blotch, and scald are in bold. Diseases that appear in bold type are the diseases that are likely to occur, while diseases in regular type are diseases that are less likely to occur. You can click on pythium root rot to determine why it is not in bold type (less likely to occur). An information box appears indicating the reasons. You may also click on barley yellow dwarf to view the rationale for the disease outcome. Clicking on a disease that is in bold type will give disease control information specific for that disease.

• Click on Pythium root rot to view the rationale for no disease outcome.
• Click on the OK button to close the information box.
• Click on Barley yellow dwarf to view the rationale for no disease outcome.
• Click on the OK button to close the information box.
• Click on Stripe Rust (bold type) to get disease control information on stripe rust.

The managerial options are also accessible from the current output window. You can change the managerial parameters without using the EXIT button. Changing the cultivar to "Tango" (non-malting) and the planting date to May 11 to 20 will change the output. These are all done within the output window. After making the changes, click on the RERUN button to update the output window. Note, stem rust and barley yellow dwarf are now in bold type because of the changes in planting date and cultivar. Tango is resistant to stripe rust. Stripe rust therefore appears not in bold type. Click on Stripe Rust to view the reason why it is less likely to occur.

• Click on the Cultivar menu from the output window.
• Select spring barley and select the non-malting class.
• Choose "Tango" as the new cultivar.
• Click on the OK button to close the information box.
• Click on the Crop Mgmt menu.
• Select Planting.
• Move the scroll bar towards the later planting dates (May 11 to 20).
• Click on the OK button to close the Planting frame.
• Click on the RERUN button to update the output window.

Integrated Disease Management
The control information, provided when you click on each disease using the left button of the mouse, is specific for that disease. When several diseases occur together during the same growing season, the suggestions for disease control must be consolidated to develop an integrated disease managerial program that will control as many of the diseases as possible in the most economical way. IDM refers to Integrated Disease Management and provides options for an integrated disease control. IDM allows you to design your own disease control program, and the Custom Controller inference engine evaluates your customized disease control program and produces an output listing the diseases that are controlled as well as the diseases that are not controlled. To design your own disease control program, click on the IDM button. The window for customizing your disease control program appears. The window for customizing your disease control program displays the graphical representation of crop growth stages, three numeric scales for the growth stages, control buttons for seed treatment and spray options, and an exit button. The EXIT button returns you to the output window. The three scales for growth stages and their numeric values provide descriptive information. You can click on the scale label for general information about each growth stage, and you can click on the numeric values of the scales for information on specific growth stages. Zadoks (B) refers to the basic Zadoks scale, while the Zadoks (E) refers to the expanded Zadoks scale.

• Click on the IDM button
• Click on the Zadoks (B) Scale label.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on any of the scale values (1 to 9) in the Zadoks (B) Scale
• Click on the OK button."
  
• Click on the Zadoks (E) Scale label.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on any of the scale values (15 to 90) in the Zadoks (E) Scale
• Click on the OK button.
  
• Click on the Feekes Scale label.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on any of the scale values (1 to11) in the Feekes Scale
• Click on the OK button.

If you decide to treat the seeds with fungicides before planting, click on the SEED TREATMENT button. A frame containing optional seed treatments appears. Select a seed treatment by clicking on one of the option buttons. A fungicide mix option is provided for those who wish to mix seed treatments for a broader range of disease control. To select the second fungicide, click on the fungicide mix box and then select another fungicide. Technical information about the fungicides is available by clicking on the name in parentheses (the common or generic name). A frame containing information on identity, chemistry, action & uses, environmental guidelines, emergency guidelines, and chemical structure of the fungicide is provided. Information on fungicides may change. For the most recent information about the fungicides check the label on the fungicide container.

• Click on the Seed Treatment box.
• Click on triadimenol, the common name for Baytan neither the word Baytan nor the option button), to view technical information about triadimenol.
• Click OK to close the triadimenol window,
• Select Baytan as the seed treatment fungicide to use.
• Click on the OK button to close the seed treatment option.

Options for foliar spray applications are available through the SPRAY OPTION button. When you check on the SPRAY OPTION, a frame containing a list of foliar fungicides and check boxes for multiple sprays and fungicide mixtures appears. You can select two fungicides by checking on the fungicide mix box. A second foliar application with one or two fungicides can also be selected by checking the multiple spray box. Select Tilt (propiconazole) from the list. For this session, do not select the Multiple spray or the fungicide mix options. As with fungicides for seed treatment, technical information about the foliar fungicides is also available by clicking on the name in parentheses (the common or generic name).

• Click on the SPRAY OPTION button.
• Select the fungicide Tilt (propiconazole).
• Click on the OK button to confirm your selection.

The window with crop growth stages reappears with two additional elements, an arrow and a scroll bar. The arrow, which appears on the top of the crop growth stages, corresponds to the foliar spray, and therefore is referred to as the spray arrow. When you click on the spray arrow, a dialog box with information about the selected foliar fungicides and seed treatment appears.

• Click on the spray arrow for information on the selected fungicides
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

The location of the spray arrow indicates when the spray will be applied. Use the scroll bar below the scale to move the spray arrow from one growth stage to another in order to change the timing of the foliar application. Change the position of the spray arrow by dragging the bar or clicking on the small arrows at both ends of the scroll bar. Change the location of the spray arrow to the later stage of growth (heading & anthesis), and click on the FIRE button to run Custom Controller.

• Move the bar to position the spray arrow at heading & anthesis stage (Feekes 10.1 to 10.5 or Zadoks 50 to 60).
  : Click on the FIRE button.

A label restriction dialog box appears and indicates that Tilt should be applied only at or before late jointing stage (Feekes 8, Zadoks 37). Note. This may change in the future, if the label changes. Close the dialog box and reposition the spray arrow at the jointing stage (Feekes 6, Zadoks 31), and click on the FIRE button.

• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box containing the label restriction of Tilt.
• Move the bar to position the spray arrow at the jointing stage (Feekes 6, Zadoks 31).
• Click on the FIRE button.

Two frames appear, one listing the diseases that are not controlled by the customized control program and one listing the controlled diseases. Powdery mildew and net blotch are controlled. While stem rust, barley yellow dwarf, and scald are not controlled. You may obtain information on how to control these diseases by clicking on the specific disease. A later application of fungicides is necessary to control stem rust. If you click on stem rust, the screen will show that the foliar application must be applied at boot to milk stage, which is too late for Tilt. To change the timing of application, you must click on the EXIT button. Move the spray arrow to the position for application at the boot stage (Feekes 10, Zadoks 40). Note. The label restriction indicating that Tilt can not be applied after late jointing; however, the restriction could change in the future. Now, move the spray arrow to the late jointing stage (Feekes 8, Zadoks 37), and click on the FIRE button.

• Click on the EXIT button.
• Move the bar to position the spray arrow at the late jointing stage (Feekes 8, Zadoks 37).
• Click on the FIRE button.

Powdery mildew, net blotch and scald were controlled when you moved the timing of the fungicide spray to Feekes 8 or Zadoks 37. Stem rust remains uncontrolled because it is a late occurring disease in the PNW. To control stem rust, you need a fungicide that can be used at a later stage. If stem rust is a major problem, you can replace Tilt with a fungicide that can control the disease but that does not have the same label restriction. Obtain the disease control information for stem rust by clicking on stem rust. Folicur is suggested and application should be timed between boot and milk stage.

• Click on stem rust in the list of uncontrolled diseases.
• Click on the OK button.

To re-customize your disease control program first click on the EXIT button and then click on the spray option button. Select Folicur from a list of fungicides. Position the spray arrow at Feekes 10 or Zadoks 40, and click on the FIRE button.

• Click on the EXIT button.
• Click on the box for Spray Option to select the fungicide to use.
• Select Folicur.
• Click on the OK button.
• Move the spray arrow to Feekes 10 or Zadoks 40.
• Click on the FIRE button.

Stem rust is now listed in the frame designated as "Controlled Diseases." Barley yellow dwarf is the only diseases not controlled. Click on the disease for information on how to control it. You can reduce barley yellow dwarf by planting at a later date. At this time, there is no recommended foliar fungicide for barley yellow dwarf; but insecticides may reduce the population of the aphids that transmit the virus. Gaucho used as a seed treatment insecticide can control aphids that transmit barley yellow dwarf.

Changing the Weather
Weather conditions during summer, early fall, late fall, winter, early spring, and late spring have a default setting based on the historical records of most common conditions that occur in the selected region and agronomic zone. When you define the region and the agronomic zone, the weather for the periods of the growing season are set based on your selection. When the weather deviates from that norm, you can change the default for weather to the appropriate setting. If the winter weather was extremely cold or colder than normal for your area, you may click on the Weather menu, select Winter from the menu and choose "Cold with light or no snow cover." Then, click on the RERUN button to refresh the output window. Note the warning statement in the dialog box. A new set of diseases will appear.

• Click on the Weather menu.
• Select Winter.
• Choose Cold with light or no snow cover.
• Click on the RERUN button to refresh the output window.

Changing Disease History
Disease History listed in the Field Characteristics menu also has a default setting based on historical data for the region and the agronomic zone or district. You may check the disease history of the field by clicking on the Field Characteristics menu and selecting Disease History from the menu. The Disease History window contains a list of diseases that can occur in the PNW. The diseases that have been historically important in the selected region and zone or district are indicated with a check mark. In the case of barley yellow dwarf, if you think that it has not been a problem in the past, you may remove the check. Similarly if leaf rust has occurred, it may be checked. The program does not consider unchecked diseases, since it would mean the disease is not a problem. Close the Disease History window and click on the RERUN button to update the output window.

• Click on the Field Characteristics menu.
• Select Disease History.
• Remove the check from Barley Yellow Dwarf box by clicking on it.
• Click on the OK button to return to the output window
• Click on the RERUN button to update the output window.

The program considers the classical disease triangle in predicting a disease outcome. This means that a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and favorable environmental conditions for development of the disease must exist for the disease to occur and cause damage to the crop. Changing the cultivar may alter the susceptibility of the host, and changing crop management may change the environmental conditions for disease development. The absence of a disease based on historical data (unchecked diseases in Disease History window) assumes the absence of a virulent pathogen or historically unfavorable environmental conditions for the disease. Thus, a negative disease outcome is expected. If by mistake you indicate that the disease is not historically important, you will not get a managerial option for control of that disease.

Parameters included in the fungicide-use pattern are the kind of fungicide, effectiveness of fungicide for control of a disease or range of diseases, effective spray timing, and label restriction. Updating the fungicide-use pattern involves all aspects of fungicide use that affect the integrated disease management. This part of the program is divided into pesticide for seed treatment, fungicides for foliar sprays, and label restriction for foliar spray. The DEFAULT, UPDATE and EXIT buttons are provided to do or undo the changes you have made.

Seed-applied Pesticides.
In the Customized IDM window, the Fungicide Update menu gives access to fungicides that are used for seed treatment. There are a total of ten fungicides and one insecticide considered by MoreCrop for control of 17 diseases and an insect pest. A disease is indicated with a check mark if the corresponding fungicide can control it. If the fungicide is no longer effective against the disease, you may remove the check mark and click on the UPDATE button then EXIT

• Click on IDM and go to customize window.
• Click on the. FUNGICIDE UPDATE menu and select Seed Treatment Fungicide.
• Highlight "Scald" or any disease by clicking on the disease in the disease legend.
• Click on the EXIT button.

New fungicide can be added by simply typing the name of the new fungicide into any of the text boxes listing the fungicides. Efficacy characteristics of this new fungicide can be defined by putting check marks on diseases that it can control, and removing the check marks on diseases it can not control. The UPDATE button records the changes and uses it in integrated disease management evaluation. Update information exits only for session. The DEFAULT button cancels all the changes you made and resets all values to default setting.

Foliar Fungicides
Eleven foliar fungicides are used for control of stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, net blotch, powdery mildew, scald, septoria, scab, and spot blotch. For each fungicide, corresponding check boxes are provided for the diseases. A check mark on a disease indicates efficacy of the corresponding fungicide to that disease. You may put a check mark or remove a check mark on the disease depending on the efficacy of a fungicide.

Effective spray range is indicated for each foliar fungicide. The spray range is indicated in text and at the same time visually represented in graphics through the blue bar below the growth stages. The effective spray range needed to control a disease can be viewed by clicking on that disease in the legend. Spray range can be adjusted by repositioning the horizontal bars that control the start and end range. This range can be used as guide to position the spray arrow for effective control of a disease.

• Click on the. Fungicide Update menu and select Foliar Spray Fungicide.
• Click on any of the diseases in the disease legend to view the effective spray range of various diseases.

If you wish to change the effective spray range of a disease, click on that disease in the legend to highlight it and reposition the start scroll bar and the end scroll bar to a new range. This change must be registered by clicking on the UPDATE button for each change and for each disease.

• Click on the. Fungicide Update menu and select Foliar Spray Fungicide.
• Click on Stem Rust from the disease legend to select and highlight it.
• You may change the effective spray date by moving the start scroll bar to "late jointing" so that the new effective spray range is late jointing to milk.

Label Restrictions
Some fungicides have a label restriction that limits their application. Tilt, as an example, has a label restriction that states that it can not be applied beyond the jointing stage. If a new regulatory allows late application of Tilt, then the label restriction of Tilt in MoreCrop can be adjusted to accommodate the new regulation.

Two elements appear in the label restriction windows, one is a red vertical line called restriction line in the graphical representation of growth stages and the other one is a scroll bar connected to the fungicide. The scroll bar controls the position of the restriction line. The position of the restriction line changes as you select the fungicide. The fungicide is selected by clicking on it. Some fungicides do not have label restriction. In such cases, the restriction line is located at the dough stage (Zadoks 80).

To change the label restriction of Tilt, click on Fungicide Update menu and select Label restriction. Select the fungicide Tilt by clicking on it. The restriction line appears. Move the label restriction line by scrolling the bar toward the later stage of the crop. Click on the UPDATE button, then EXIT. Reselect the fungicide Tilt if it is not selected yet and FIRE. The label restriction dialog box of Tilt is no longer shown.

The Library menu contains additional information relevant to disease management. Maps of the geographical regions and agronomic zones, growth stages of crops, stripe rust races, distribution of stripe rust races, and diseases common in the PNW, and barley cultivars. View the maps of geographical regions and agronomic zones by selecting Maps from the Library menu, and choosing either Geographical Regions or Agronomic Zones. Information about each geographical region is available by clicking on the zone number on the map. Information about each agronomic zone is available by clicking on the color code in the map legend.

• Click on the Library menu.
• Select Maps.
• Choose Geographical Regions.
• Click on any region.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on the EXIT button to return to the MoreCrop desktop.
  
• Click on the Library menu.
• Select Maps.
• Choose Agronomic Zones.
• Click on any of the color codes on the legend.
• Click the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on the EXIT button to return to the MoreCrop desktop.

The growth stages of cereals using the Zadoks and Feekes scales can be viewed by selecting Growth Stages from the Library menu. You may retrieve information about Zadoks (Basic), Zadoks (Expanded) and Feekes scales by clicking on the appropriate scale label. Descriptions of the growth stages are also available by clicking on the numerical scale values.

• Click on the Library menu.
• Select Growth Stages to view the graphical display.
• Click on the Zadoks (B) scale label.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
  
• Click on the Zadoks (E) scale label.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
  
• Click on the Feekes scale label
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box
  
• Click on any of the numerical scale values.
• Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
• Click on the EXIT button to return to MoreCrop desktop.

This ends the tutorial session. You may run MoreCrop for Barley by defining the variables that suit your objectives or experiment with different managerial scenarios. Information on cultivar resistance, races of pathogens, fungicides, and other managerial factors changes from time to time. Therefore, MoreCrop will be updated periodically as more information becomes available.

This program is designed for the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The principles and concepts used to develop the system should apply to other regions, but specific inputs may be different in other geographical areas. You are encouraged to report problems, bugs, and anomalies that you may discover. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

The MoreCrop web site was designed and developed by Leila M. Styer
WSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Computer Resource Unit

Copyright © Washington State University | Disclaimer
Electronic Publishing and Appropriate Use Policy
University Information: 509/335-3564

Viewed best at 640x480 resolution using Netscape® Navigator 3.0+ or Microsoft® Internet Explorer 3.0+.