Battlefield tactics for the management of Zymoseptoria tritici

Zymoseptoria tritici, often known as Septoria Tritici Blotch or STB, is a major disease of wheat which can cause yield reductions of 30-50% by reducing the photosynthetic area of the crop. A range of cultural techniques can be employed but in isolation these have limited success for control. Z. tritici control is still heavily reliant on fungicides which is becoming ever more challenging due to increasing fungicide resistance. This paper discusses how Z. tritici can be controlled by a series the military battlefield strategy through shaping, decisive and sustaining actions, underpinned by a constantly refreshed understanding of the operating environment. Decisive actions are those actions that, without which, the mission (in this case achieving a good yield from a wheat crop) could not be achieved. Shaping actions are those actions that set conditions for a successful decisive action. Sustaining actions are those which sustain the ability to deliver shaping and decisive actions Considering Z. tritici management using this range of strategies will effectively help severe yield loss from disease infection.