Computerized information system for cereal disease management in Emilia-Romagna (Italy)

CERMAL is a computerized system on cereal diseases in Emilia-Romagna (IT), holding yearly data on severity of fungal diseases (powdery mildew, rusts, septoria diseases, scab, net and spot blotch, scald and black point) on bread wheat, durum wheat, barley and triticale collected in the experimental trials of the Union of Experimental Stations in Emilia-Romagna (CERAS) since 1979. The data base contains information on approximately 300 experimental trials. Basic trial data (year, location, cereal-growing area) and severity of disease on each cultivar are stored. A management program allows data to be retrieved on the basis of year, cereal-growing area and/or cultivar, for use in statistical analyses. Information on the behaviour of cultivars in relation to disease, the probability of disease appearance and development, and the level of disease risk in a given cereal-growing area can be output and used for cultivar choice and disease management. CERMAL operates within the integrated production program for wheat and barley supported by the Emilia-Romagna region.