Risk of Fusarium Head Blight Low in 2009
Figure 1. Wheat in the southern tier of southeast and south central Nebraska is heading and/or flowering. |
Figure 2. Tan spot. |
Figure 3. The flag leaf in all fields surveyed on May 21 in southeastern and south central Nebraska was free of disease. | Figure 4. Loose smut. |
Figure 5. The national Fusarium Head Blight Risk Assessment Tool showed a low risk of disease in Nebraska as of May 22. Check map on-line. |
May 22, 2009
Wheat Disease Update
A tour of wheat fields on May 21 revealed that wheat in the southern tier of southeastern and south central Nebraska is fully headed and/or flowering (Figure 1). The counties surveyed were Adams, Clay, Filmore, Gage, Saline, and Webster. The major foliar disease found was tan spot (Figure 2) at very low levels (overall incidence and severity of less than 1%). The flag leaf in all fields surveyed did not have any disease (Figure 3). Loose smut (Figure 4) was found in a few fields at an incidence of about 2%. Leaf rust was not found.
Due to the dry weather preceding heading and flowering, the risk of Fusarium head blight (scab) this year is low. As of May 22, the Fusarium head blight risk map (Figure 5) showed a low risk in Nebraska.
Stephen Wegulo
Extension Plant Pathologist
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