Oat
Season
Mild temperatures and good rainfall at the start of the season allowed oats to grow well for the first half of the season producing good quantities of biomass. Many growers took advantage of the high biomass to cut for hay rather than take a chance on grain production.
As observed with other crops, oats performed better in the east and to a certain extent the South West. Yields in the west compromised by dry conditions and some frost damage.
Disease
Dry conditions meant the incidence of rust and red leather leaf were low in 2014. Barley yellow dwarf virus was common in the high rainfall zone.
New varieties
Williams, a new milling variety with early maturity was released last season in WA and is available in the eastern states for the 2015 season. Williams and Bannister now set the benchmark for grain yield.
Disease
It is important that growers understand the resistance/susceptibility of their varieties to the diseases of importance in their region and plan management strategies accordingly. Managing the green bridge will be important after summer rain events.
Quality
Variety selection should be based upon agronomic traits, potential grain quality and marketing or end use options.
Oats are grown for human consumption or animal feed as a grain or hay. Grain quality traits for the milling industry include high groat percent, high β-glucan, low screenings, and high hectolitre weight. Grain quality traits for improved animal feed include low hull lignin, high groat percentage, and high oil content, resulting in high grain digestibility.
Important hay quality traits are high digestibility, high water soluble carbohydrates, low fibre and high protein.
The option of oats for hay is increasing in popularity where growers have identified it as profitable, as a tool to manage herbicide resistance and to spread risk. Variety performance for hay yield and quality is available in the Oat
Newsletter at www.sardi.sa.gov.au/crops/publications/newsletters.
Royalties
Where applicable, growers selling oat seed or export hay will pay an End Point Royalty (EPR). Growers producing domestic hay from PBR varieties will pay a seed royalty of
$2/tonne, but will not pay an EPR. The AEXCO oat EPR for export hay is $2/tonne (ex GST).
www.nvtonline.com.au
Detailed NVT trial results and links to variety information.

Australian Field Crop Disease Guide app www.extensionaus.com.au/australian-field-cropdisease-guide-app
OAT www.depi.vic.gov.au/agriculture-and-food/grains-and-othercrops

AG1160 Cereal disease guide
denotes Plant Breeders Rights apply.
End Point Royalty (EPR) for grain and hay and seed royalty for 2015-16 season quoted $/tonne ex-GST.
Milling oat – BANNISTER
A dwarf milling variety with wide adaption. Compared to
Mitika it is about 13cm taller and flowers 3-4 days later.
Similar to Mitika for groat percentage. R to leaf rust. Very susceptible and intolerant to CCN. Bred by the National
Oat Breeding Program (WAOAT2354). Released in eastern
Australia in 2013 via Seednet. EPR $2.30.
Milling oat – DUNNART
A dwarf potential milling variety with mid maturity. It is
10-15 cm taller than Mitika, Possum and Wombat. Dunnart has improved plant colour compared to Mitika and
Wombat. It is MR to leaf rust, R and MT to CCN, and MR to barley yellow dwarf virus. Bred by SARDI (SV98146-26), released 2012 and marketed by Seednet.
Milling oat – MITIKA
An early maturing dwarf variety with some resistance to common rusts. Suited to high rainfall areas, it has around
73 percent groat yield and provides excellent feed value. It is not suited to areas where CCN is a problem. Released
2005 and marketed by Heritage Seeds. EPR $2.
Milling oat
– POSSUM
A dwarf variety to replace Echidna for milling in medium to high rainfall regions with improved grain quality. It is MSS to stem rust, S to leaf rust. VS and intolerant to CCN. Late sowing may result in yield penalty. Bred by SARDI, released 2002 and marketed by Seednet. EPR $1.70.
Milling Oat – WILLIAMS
A medium to tall milling oat suited to medium to high rainfall zones. It is 15cm taller than Mitika, 5cm taller than
Bannister and 15cm shorter than Yallara. A higher yielding variety, similar to Bannister but with slightly inferior grain quality. Produces high screenings when grown in low rainfall areas. S to stem rust, but R to leaf rust and S & I to
CCN. MRMS to septoria. Bred by the National Oat
Breeding Program (WA2332). Released in WA in 2013, it is available for eastern Australia for 2015. Marketed by
Heritage Seeds. EPR $2.30.
Milling Oat – WOMBAT
A dwarf mid season variety that flowers about six days later than Mitika. It is the first dwarf milling variety with CCN resistance and tolerance. Intended to replace Mitika and
Possum where CCN and stem nematode are limiting yield, but may have higher screenings. Bred by SARDI
(SV97181-12), released 2011 and marketed by Seednet.
EPR $2.
Milling oat
– YALLARA
Medium to tall similar to Euro, which it is intended to replace. S to stem rust and MS to leaf rust and septoria.
Resistant but intolerant to CCN. Suited to drier areas. Bred by SARDI, released in 2009 and marketed by Seednet.
EPR $2.
Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015
35

Oat
Feed oat
– ECHIDNA
A widely adapted, high yielding, semi dwarf variety for milling and feed. Echidna is outclassed by Possum and
Mitika for milling quality. Moderately tolerant to stem nematode but susceptible to rusts and CCN.
Released 1984 by SARDI.
Feed oat – POTOROO
A widely adapted early feed grain semi-dwarf variety.
Suited to low rainfall areas where CCN is a problem.
Potential to use for hay production in high rainfall areas where lodging in tall varieties is a problem. Susceptible to rusts but resistant and tolerant to CCN. Released 1991 by
SARDI.
Feed/hay oat – QUOLL
High yielding semi-dwarf variety suitable for feed grain with potential to use for hay production in high rainfall areas where lodging is a problem in taller varieties. MSS to stem rust and MRMS to leaf rust. Susceptible and intolerant to
CCN. Released 1998.
Hay/feed oat
– MULGARA
A mid season tall oat targeted as a replacement for
Wintaroo but with better resistance to leaf rust and lodging.
Has excellent hay colour with quality similar to Wintaroo.
Bred by SARDI, released 2009 and marketed by AEXCO.
EPR $2 or seed royalty $30.
Hay/feed oat
– TAMMAR
Late season tall hay oat variety for medium and high rainfall zones which provides a slightly later cutting time than Tungoo and Kangaroo. S to stem rust, MRMS to leaf rust, and MR & MT to CCN. Bred by SARDI, released 2010 and marketed by AEXCO. EPR $2 or seed royalty $30.
Hay/grazing/feed oat – BRUSHER
Early to mid season tall oat, well suited to low rainfall areas. MSS to stem and leaf rust. Resistant but moderately intolerant to CCN. Bred by SARDI, released 2002 and marketed by AEXCO. EPR $2 or seed royalty $30.
Hay/grazing/feed oat – WINTAROO
Tall, mid-season variety for all rainfall zones. Susceptible to leaf and stem rust. Resistant and moderately tolerant to
CCN. Bred by SARDI, released 2001 and marketed by
AEXCO. EPR $2 or seed royalty $30.
Hay oat
– FORESTER
A medium height late hay variety is adapted to high rainfall and irrigated cropping regions. It has excellent lodging and shattering resistance. S to stem rust, MRMS to leaf rust. It has excellent hay qualities, but is MS & MI to CCN. Bred by
SARDI (SV97200-3), released 2011 and marketed by AGF
Seeds. EPR $2 or seed royalty $75.
Hay oat - GLIDER
A late maturity variety suited to high rainfall regions. S to stem rust depending on the pathotype, MSS to leaf rust.
MS and intolerant to CCN. Bred by SARDI and released
1999.
Hay oat – KANGAROO
A mid to late season moderately tall oat, a later flowering time makes it less suited to low rainfall environments. MSS to rusts. Resistant and moderately tolerant to CCN.
Released 2003. Bred by SARDI, marketed by AEXCO.
EPR $2 or seed royalty $30.
Hay oat - TUNGOO
A medium to tall variety. MSS to stem rust and MS to leaf rust. Resistant and moderately tolerant to CCN and stem nematode. Hay yield similar to Kangaroo but grain yield poor. Released 2008. Bred by SARDI, marketed by
AEXCO. EPR $2 or seed royalty $30.
Disease
FOLIAR
Leaf rust
Organism Symptoms Occurrence Hosts Control
Stem rust
Septoria blotch
BYDV
Halo blight
Stripe blight
Powdery mildew
Red leather leaf
Puccinia coronata f.sp
.avenae
Puccinia graminis f.sp
.avenae
Phaeosphaeria avenaria
Barley yellow dwarf virus
Pseudomonas syringae pv . coronafaciens
Pseudomonas syringae pv striafaciens
Blumeria graminis f.sp avenae
Spermospora avenae
Small circular orange pustules on upper leaf surface.
Large red-brown pustules, rupture in leaf surface.
More severe during moist conditions with temperatures between
15-22

C.
Infection requires warm
(15-30

C) moist conditions.
Prefers cool rainy weather, especially coastal districts.
Dark brown purple spots on leaves, sheaths & stems. Head and grain may become infected.
Leaf tip and margins turn red with intervienal chlorosis, mottling and stunting.
Light green, yellow or brown halo spot on leaves and sheaths. Leaves may wither and die.
Spots on leaves lengthen to form brown stripes on leaves & sheaths. Leaves may wither & die.
White powdery spores on upper leaf surfaces.
Underside of leaves turn yellow to brown.
Long reddish lesions with buff centres. Leaves may look and feel leathery.
Transmitted by aphids.
Moist weather provides ideal conditions.
Moist weather provides ideal conditions.
Favoured by high humidity and temperatures between
15-22

C.
High rainfall provides ideal conditions.
Volunteer oats and wild oats.
Volunteer oats and wild oats.
Spores spread in autumn by raindrop splashes from oat residues.
Hosts include all cereals and grasses, including pastures.
Bacteria on seed and crop debris are spread by rain splash, direct leaf contact, or aphids.
Bacteria on seed and crop debris are spread by rainsplash, direct leaf contact, or aphids.
Volunteer oats, oat stubble, windborne spores.
Stubble and rain splash.
Resistant varieties. Control volunteer and wild oats over the summer.
Resistant varieties. Control volunteer and wild oats over summer.
Resistant varieties. Crop rotation, bury or graze infected stubble. Avoid early sowing in high rainfall areas.
Resistant varieties.
Chemical control of insects may be suitable for high value crops.
Avoid susceptible varieties, use clean seed in clean paddocks. Destroy infected oat stubble.
Avoid susceptible varieties, use clean seed in clean paddocks, destroy infected oat stubble.
Avoid very susceptible varieties.
Avoid susceptible varieties and rotate crops. Remove infected oat stubble.
36
Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015

Oat
Disease Organism Symptoms Occurrence Hosts Control
GRAIN
Smut Ustilage segetum var. hordei . and
Ustilage avenae
Grain replaced with dark brown-black powdery spores.
Moist conditions at flowering and temperatures between
15-25

C.
Air borne spores lodge in hulls, glumes or seed coats.
Clean seed and use seed treatment. Avoid susceptible varieties.
ROOT / CROWN
Cereal cyst Heterodera nematode
(CCN) avenae
Stem nematode
Root lesion nematode
Ditylenchus dipsaci
Pratylenchus thornei &
Pratylenchus neglectus.
Yellow or pale green patches in crop. Stunted, weak plants with knotted root systems.
Can survive in soil between susceptible cereal crops for up to 2 years.
Swollen base of plant, stunted & numerous tillers.
Encouraged by moist conditions & can
Reduced tillering, ill thrift; lack of branching of root system, lesions on roots. reproduce 4-5 times per season.
Favoured by wheat in rotation with wheat chickpea, medic and vetch.
Cereals and some grasses, especially wild oats.
Wide host range including peas, beans, wild oats and many weeds. Nematode spread in infected hay.
Survives as dormant nematodes in the soil.
Resistant or tolerant varieties, crop rotation, weed control.
Crop rotation and weed control. Avoid susceptible varieties.
Crop rotation using resistant crops.
This table has been developed from information in the publications Wallwork H (2000) (Ed) Cereal Root and Crown Diseases
(Grains Research and Development Corporation, SARDI) and Wallwork H (2000) (Ed) Cereal Leaf and Stem Diseases (Grains
Research and Development Corporation, SARDI).
This table is a guide only and has been compiled from observations of the breeder and local departmental agronomists.
MALLEE April May June July
Milling: Bannister, Dunnart, Echidna, Mitka, Yallara,
Wombat
Feed: Potoroo, Quoll
Hay: Kangaroo, Mulgara, Wintaroo, Forester
Grazing: Wintaroo
WIMMERA
Milling :
Bannister, Dunnart, Echidna, Mitika, Possum, Yallara,
Wombat
Feed: Mulgara, Potoroo, Quoll
Hay:
Brusher, Glider, Kangaroo, Mulgara, Wintaroo, Forester
Grazing: Wintaroo
NORTH CENTRAL
Milling :
Bannister, Dunnart, Echidna, Mitika, Possum, Yallara,
Wombat
Feed: Potoroo, Mulgara, Quoll
Hay: Glider, Kangaroo, Mulgara, Wintaroo, Forester
NORTH EAST
Milling : Bannister, Dunnart, Echidna, Possum, Yallara,
Wombat
Feed: Mulgara, Quoll, Tammar
Hay:
Glider, Mulgara, Tammar, Tungo, Wintaroo, Forester
Grazing: Tungoo
SOUTH WEST
> X X X X X X < <
> X X X X X X < <
> X X X X X X < <
> X X X X X X < <
April May June July
> > X X X X X < < <
> > X X X X X < < <
> > X X X X X X X < < <
> > X X X X X X X < < <
April May June July
> > X X X X X < < <
> > X X X X X < < <
> X X X X X X X X < < <
April May June July
> > X X X X < <
> > X X X X < <
> X X X X X <
> X X X < <
April May June July
Milling :
Bannister, Dunnart, Echidna, Kojonup, Mitika, Yallara,
Wombat
Possum
Feed: Potoroo, Quoll, Tammar
Hay: Glider, Tammar, Tungoo, Forester
> X X X X X X X X < < <
> X X X X X X X <
> X X X X X X X X < < <
> X X X X X X X X X < < <
Varietal choice determines time to grazing or cutting for hay
>earlier than ideal, X optimum sowing time, < later than ideal but acceptable
Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015
37

Oat
Oat disease reactions provided by Pamela Zwer, SARDI.
End Height Maturity Hectolitre Stem use weight Rust
Leaf
Rust
CCN
Res Tol
BYDV Septoria Bacterial blight
Red
Leather
Leaf
Milling Oats
Bannister
Dunnart
Mitika
Possum
Williams
Wombat
Yallara
Feed Oats
Echidna
Potoroo
M/F
F
Quoll F
Hay/Grazing/Feed
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
Brusher
Forester
Glider
Kangaroo
Mulgara
Tammar
Tungoo
Wintaroo
H/G/F
H
H
H
H
H
H
H/G
TD
TD
D
D
MT
D
MT
D
TD
TD
T
MT
MT
MT
T
MT
MT
T
M
M
E
EM
E
EM
EM
EM
E
EM
EM
VL
L
ML
EM
LM
ML
EM
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
M
L
ML
M
L
ML
M
M
L
L
M
S
S
S
MSS
S
MSS
S
R
MR
MSS
S
R
MS
MS
S
S
S
S
MSS MRMS
MSS
S
S
MSS
S
S
MSS
S
S
R
S
MSS
MRMS
MSS
MSS
MRMS
R
MS
MS
R
R
MRMS MR
MS R
S R
VS
R
VS
VS
S
R
R
I
MT
I
I
I
T
I
I
T
I
MI
MI
I
MT
MT
MT
MT
MT
MS
MR
MSS
S
MRMS
MR
MS
MS
MS
MS
MS
S
S
S
MS
MS
MRMS
MRMS
S
MRMS
S
MS
MRMS
MS
MS
S
S
-
MS
MR
MR
MRMS
MS
MR
MR
MRMS
-
-
-
S
-
-
-
S
S
MS
MRMS
-
-
-
-
-
-
MRMS
End use: M = milling, F = feed grain, G = grazing, H = hay
Plant height: D = dwarf, TD = tall dwarf, T = tall, ST = short tall, MT = moderate tall
Maturity: E = early, EM = early mid, M = mid season, ML = mid late season, LM = late mid season, L = late, VL=very late
Hectolitre weight: H = heavy, M = medium, L = light
R = Resistant RMR = Resistant to moderately resistant MR = Moderately resistant MRMS = Moderately resistant to moderately susceptible MS = Moderately susceptible MSS = Moderately susceptible to susceptible S = Susceptible SVS =
Susceptible to very susceptible VS = Very susceptible
Disease tolerance: T = tolerant, MT = moderately tolerant, MI = moderately intolerant, I = intolerant
MS
MS
S
MSS
MS
MS
MS
MS
VS
MS
MS
RMR
R
MS
MS
MS
R
MS
Mitika (t/ha)
Bannister
Dunnart
Echidna
Euro
Mitika
Numbat
Possum
Quoll
Williams
Wombat
Yallara
North Central
3.52
110 (7)
106 (9)
95 (4)
88 (4)
100 (9)
53 (6)
97 (9)
-
116 (7)
100 (9)
92 (9)
North East
3.15
124 (10)
111 (11)
95 (4)
106 (5)
100 (11)
77 (5)
104 (11)
111 (7)
131 (10)
118 (11)
101 (11)
South West
4.38
115 (4)
106 (4)
102 (3)
-
100 (4)
-
101 (4)
-
111 (4)
105 (4)
88 (4)
Sowing Date
Mitika (t/ha)
Bannister
Dunnart
Echidna
Mitika
Possum
Williams
Wombat
Yallara
Site Mean (t/ha)
CV (%)
LSD (%)
North Central
Diggora Eastville
12/5/14
5.10
18/5/14
3.23
114
111
109
100
103
112
108
88
5.15
5
7
106
98
95
100
95
100
91
101
3.18
4
7
116
109
119
100
100
115
109
96
4.54
4
6
Dookie
North East
Yarrawonga (C)
South West
Hamilton (F) Streatham
13/5/14
4.32
16/5/14
2.81
7/5/14
5.99
16/5/14
4.84
106
108
101
100
100
130
110
100
2.92
13
21
130
122
115
100
105
121
110
95
6.43
3
6
115
94
106
100
102
95
98
78
4.80
4
6
C = caution interpreting data: high variability at Yarrawonga. F = Multiple frosts.
38
Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015

Oat
Bannister
Dunnart
Echidna
Mitika
Possum
Williams
Wombat
Yallara
North Central
Diggora Eastville
Oat
8.5
8.3
8.7
9.6
8.9
8.9
8.9
8.6
Oat
11.3
10.6
11.2
12.3
12.1
12.2
12.2
11.3
Dookie
North East
Yarrawonga
Oat
11.3
9.3
9.9
9.6
9.7
9.6
9.7
10.1
Oat
9.7
9.5
9.8
11.1
11.0
10.1
10.3
9.9
South West
Hamilton Streatham
Oat
8.9
9.3
9.3
10.4
9.9
9.8
9.3
9.9
Oat
11.1
10.7
10.7
10.3
11.4
10.9
11.3
11.4
Echidna
Mitika
Possum
North Central
Diggora East
-ville
7.5
4.0
5.8
Screenings (%)
North East
Dookie Yarrawonga
Bannister 10.4 12.0 18.5
Dunnart 5.9 10.4 16.0
20.0 19.7
7.1 11.0
6.6 15.6
12.2
19.6
18.3
12.1
14.3
South West
Hamilton Streatham
2.7
2.4
6.3
1.6
4.3
8.5
3.2
15.1
5.8
5.2
Williams
Wombat
Yallara
12.9 18.2 26.4
10.6 11.2 19.9
11.1 7.7 20.9
20.5
21.2
19.8
7.8
5.5
2.9
14.1
7.3
3.9
Test weight (kg/hectalitre)
North Central
Diggora Eastville
North East
Dookie Yarrawonga
South West
Hamilton Streatham
53.5
50.8
51.8
50.0
50.4
52.3
52.0
50.4
43.2
44.5
43.3
44.4
57.2
51.4
42.1 54.5
46.3 55.8
52.3
54.9
44.0 54.9
44.4 55.2
72.0
48.9
50.8
51.4
49.1
50.8
51.3
50.9
55.2
53.0
53.2
55.1
53.2
52.9
54.0
54.3
49.8
50.8
49.8
51.2
51.1
49.7
49.1
52.5
Frank Henry
Grant Hollaway
Pamela Zwer
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Hamilton
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Horsham
South Australian Research and Development Institute
Sue Hoppo South Australian Research and Development Institute
Peter McCormack South Australian Research and Development Institute
Victorian Winter Crop Summary 2015
39