Australia
July 29, 2026
GRDC crop protection manager – west Jonas Hodgson and DPIRD research scientist Sneha Sharma examine the new SclerotiniaLM app, available for download now.
Photo: GRDC
A new digital decision support tool to help lupin growers manage Sclerotinia canopy infection in lupins has been released.
The SclerotiniaLM app was developed by the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) with co-investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
SclerotiniaLM is the first decision support tool in the lupin management, or LM, series.
The SclerotiniaLM app will support lupin growers in WA, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia with foliar fungicide application decisions during the crop bloom stage to reduce the impact of sclerotinia canopy infection.
Sclerotinia stem rot is a fungal disease that can infect lupin species during winter through to spring, which can cause yield losses of up to 20 per cent in WA.
This decision support tool compares the likely profitability of fungicide applications and no disease treatment, taking into account costs, yield benefits, grain price and seasonal conditions to determine the best case and worst case scenarios.
The app is based on data captured through a GRDC and DPIRD co-funded investment in lupin sclerotinia research.
DPIRD research scientist Ciara Beard said as sclerotinia control was most effective when undertaken before symptoms appeared, the app provided growers with a valuable tool to make informed treatment decisions.
“Sclerotinia control can be a bit of a gamble as growers and advisers need to make difficult management decisions based on several disease risk factors, rather than visible symptoms,” she said.
One of the great things about the SclerotiniaLM app is that it takes into consideration the risk factors to inform treatments such as weather conditions, which have a major influence on this unpredictable disease.
“It allows growers to tailor inputs to their own crop scenario in order to determine the likelihood of an economic return from foliar fungicide application.
“By using the SclerotiniaLM app alongside the Lupin Sclerotinia disease risk assessment guide growers can confidently make bloom stage disease management decisions to help improve crop productivity and profitability.”
The new SclerotiniaLM app for lupins complements the tools available for canola bloom stage fungicides in the canola management series, including SclerotiniaCM and UCI BlacklegCM.
It is important to note the SclerotiniaLM app is not intended for use to make decisions related to the control of basal sclerotinia in lupin crops, where soil infections do not respond to foliar fungicide applications.
GRDC Crop Protection Manager – West Jonas Hodgson said the SclerotiniaLM app was a practical example of research being turned into a tool growers and advisers could use in-crop.
Mr Hodgson said the app highlighted the need for growers and agronomists to pay close attention to lupins between the early flowering and early podding stage for Sclerotinia risks to get the most effective result from a fungicide application.
“Lupin growers are making fungicide decisions in a complex and often changing environment, so having access to a tool that draws together seasonal conditions, crop factors, likely yield response and costs is a valuable step forward,” he said.
GRDC’s investment in this work reflects our commitment to delivering practical, evidence-based resources that help growers manage disease risk, protect yield and improve profitability.
The SclerotiniaLM app is available on Apple and Android platforms and can be downloaded on all mobile phone and tablet devices.
For more details and links to download visit the DPIRD website and search for ‘online tools’.
A ‘Managing lupin sclerotinia and the new SclerotiniaLM app’ webinar on the SclerotiniaLM app will be held at 1pm Thursday, 30 July 2026. For details and to register email janette.pratt@dpird.wa.gov.au.
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