University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

April 7, 2006

Wheat disease update: Rusts identified in southern states

As of April 5, the major disease seen on wheat in Nebraska has been powdery mildew. Despite the cold spell and snow storm of March 18-20, powdery mildew was still active on Millennium and Jagalene wheat varieties at the South Central Agricultural Laboratory near Clay Center on April 4. It was starting to spread from the lower to the upper leaves. In a research plot at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, no diseases were observed on Millennium wheat on April 4. Soil-borne mosaic virus was observed in breeding nurseries at the Havelock Farm in Lincoln on April 5.

Dr. Bill Bockus, Kansas State University plant pathologist, said he has observed leaf rust in his research plots at KSU since early March; however, the extent of infection by the leaf rust is very minor. He also has seen powdery mildew, Septoria leaf blotch, barley yellow dwarf virus, and wheat streak mosaic virus in his research plots. According to Jon Appel, plant pathologist with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, there were no reports of leaf or stripe rust in commercial wheat fields in Kansas as of April 4.

Here is the latest information from the Cereal Rust Bulletin: As of April 4, there were no reports of stem rust in the United States. In late March, leaf rust was active in commercial wheat fields, nurseries, or research plots in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and North Carolina. In late March, stripe rust was active in wheat fields and plots in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. No stripe rust had been reported in Oklahoma by the end of March. On April 5, stripe rust was reported in two counties in Georgia.

Stephen N. Wegulo
Extension Plant Pathologist, Lincoln
Jennifer Rees
Extension Educator, Clay Center

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