Wheat Disease Update
(L)Figure 2. Stripe rust on a wheat plant stunted by wheat streak mosaic in Kimball County on June 23. (R) Figure 3. Leaf rust on a susceptible wheat line in a state variety trial in Hichcock County on June 23.
June 26, 2015
A survey of wheat fields June 22-24 showed moderate to severe Fusarium head blight (scab) in southeast, south central, and southwest Nebraska (Figure 1). Trace levels of the disease were observed in Kimball, Cheyenne, and Box Butte counties in the Panhandle.
Stripe rust development had ceased in most parts of the state. Some plants with actively sporulating pustules were observed in the southern and northern Panhandle (Figure 2).Leaf rust development had picked up and was severe in some lines in a state variety trial in Hitchcock County (Figure 3).
Wheat in some fields had turned or was starting to turn color.
Management
It is too late this growing season to control wheat diseases. Rust and other foliar fungal diseases can be managed by scouting and fungicide application timed to protect the flag leaf. Wheat streak mosaic can be managed by controlling volunteer wheat and grassy weeds before planting in the fall.
Stephen WeguloExtension Plant Pathologist
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