A number of diseases were reported in wheat this fall, indicating the potential for increased diseases next spring. The author outlines a comprehensive strategy to tackle the challenge, starting this winter.
A number of diseases were reported in Nebraska wheat this fall. In this article plant pathologist Stephen Wegulo outlines how to develop a comprehensive plan to tackle this yield challenge, starting with steps growers can take this winter.
Stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust have been identified in fall planted wheat in Nebraska, extending into areas where it had previously not developed in the fall. Plant Pathologist Stephen Wegulo looks at the outbreak, conditions contributing to rust development this fall, and the economic and management issues.
By far, the greatest risk of losses from mite-vectored viruses occurs when there is a summer "green bridge" of volunteer wheat emerging before harvest. This almost always occurs as a result of wheat seed head shatter from hail storms (Figure 1).
Stripe rust has significantly increased in all wheat-growing areas in Nebraska. It is recommended that wheat be treated with a fungicide to protect the flag leaf. If the incidence (percentage of flag leaves diseased) or severity (percentage of the flag leaf area diseased) is less than 50%, spraying a fungicide will significantly reduce yield loss due to stripe rust.
A survey of wheat fields in southeast and south central Nebraska this week found most fields looking healthy with little or no disease. Fungal and virus diseases were found at varying levels in some fields. Depending on growth stage and disease present, fungicides may still be beneficial.
With wheat headed or flowering in southeast and south central Nebraska, head diseases are starting to appear, including Fusarium head blight, loose smut, white mold (scab) and barley yellow dwarf. Wheat stem maggots were also causing damage.
