07/02/2012

Weather conditions have been getting steadily warmer over the last week, routinely in the mid-80s° F. This trend is set to continue over the next week with temperatures reaching the low 90s° F. This unusually dry and warm weather is having a direct impact on the range and severity of diseases and plants reactions to other stresses such as herbicide drift and drought. With the majority of wheat in the end of milk and into the early dough stage, many plants are clearly showing evidence of heat stress. This heat stress is exacerbating other diseases that are not normally prevalent.

Stripe rust is still very evident across the state with high severity on spring and winter wheat in to the mid canopy. A number of fungicides will give good control of stripe rust provided they are applied before symptoms are evident on the flag leaf. Fungicide application will not cure already visible or latent infections. Although the warm temperatures will slow stripe rust development, cooler night time temperatures and the chance of stormy precipitation, will allow this disease to continue. If generic Folicur, Prosaro or Caramba were already applied at Feekes 10.51 to suppress scab, you can expect sufficient control for the remainder of the growing season for stripe rust.

Septoria species are also becoming prevalent in the west central portion of the state with low – mid severity on 20-50% in the fields scouted. Evidence of wheat stem maggot is now appearing in the south-west of the state. Typical symptoms of damage caused by this insect are white or blasted heads which will produce no grain, while the rest of the plants looks normal. The head can easily be pulled from the plant to reveal the feeding damage.

Because of the weather, the risk of scab is likely to be very low over the next week. These same conditions are more conducive to stem rust and leaf rust may become more evident, especially in the southern part of the state.

–Jochum Wiersma, Small Grains Specialist, University of Minnesota

For more details, go to the FHB Risk Assessment Tool at http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/riskTool_2012.html