Wheat on the Eastern shore of Maryland is heading and should start flowering within a week or so. Wheat in the north-western part (Frederick, Carroll, Hartford counties) is also close to heading or has started heading. Barley is already headed or is currently heading, depending upon the location and the variety. The FHB fungal pathogen infects the wheat plants at the flowering stage (when the yellow anthers emerge from the heads), which is the stage at which the application of fungicides is conducted in wheat. The FHB map currently does not show high risk, especially for a genetically resistant variety. However, keeping an eye on the forecasts and weather patterns over the next few days as your wheat flowers is recommended. If you are planning to apply fungicides for FHB, remember that triazole-containing fungicides (Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, and Sphaerex) should be used for controlling FHB. They can control other fungal pathogens like powdery mildew as well, in addition to scab. Strobilurin-containing fungicides should not be used at this stage.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Barley is heading across the region, but scab risk is fairly low for all except those growing very susceptible varieites in western PA. If you missed a fungicide application at full heading, there is great news: we have recently revised our recommendations regarding fungicide timing. Work done by researchers in North Carolina found that the best spray timing for protecting winter barley from scab is application six days after 100 pct heading. With this new guidance we should get better DON reduction in barley than under our previous recommendation which targeted 50 pct heading. Current labels state that the last stage of application is mid-flower and there is a 30-day harvest restriction. Do not use any of the strobilurins (Quadris, Headline), or strobilurin/triazole (Twinline, Quilt, Stratego) combination products at flowering or later. There is evidence that they may cause an increase in mycotoxin production.

Miravis Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro Pro, and Sphaerex all provide very good scab suppression. The Miravis Ace label allows for earlier application than Caramba or Prosaro, but best results are still achieved when application is timed after full heading in barley. Spray nozzles should be angled at 30 deg down from horizontal, toward the grain heads, using forward- and backward-mounted nozzles or nozzles with a two-directional spray, such as Twinjet nozzles. Additionally, a fungicide treatment at heading using any of these products will also give you excellent control of most leaf diseases as well.

--Alyssa A. Collins, Associate Professor, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University

Barley is currently heading throughout Maryland currently. Wheat has still a few weeks to flower. We have had intermittent wet and warm days recently, and the trend seems to be continuing. Although the FHB risk map does not show a very high risk currently, remember that barley is susceptible. If you are considering applying fungicides on barley, remember that triazol-containing fungicides (Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, and Sphaerex) should be used for controlling FHB. Strobilurin containing fungicides should not be used at this stage

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Barley is beginning to emerge from boot in the southernmost regions of Pennsylvania. Be sure to scout for growth stage as there appears to be a good deal of variability across the region. Risk of scab infection is low now, but increasing with climbing humidity and high temperatures in the southwestern part of PA.

Keep a watchful eye on your crop, and if you plan to spray for head scab, target a fungicide application for six days after the barley stems in the field have fully headed. Prosaro, Sphaerex, and Miravis Ace give good control of most leaf and head diseases, in addition to suppressing scab. Spray nozzles should be angled at 30 degrees down from horizontal, toward the grain heads, using forward- and backward mounted nozzles or nozzles with a two directional spray, such as Twinjet nozzles.

Continue to visit wheatscab.psu.edu to use the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center for estimating your crop's scab risk.

--Alyssa A. Collins, Associate Professor, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University

Welcome to the wheat and barley heading and flowering season, Maryland! This is the first FHB risk forecast for this season from me, and I will continue to provide you with regular commentaries over the next 6-7 weeks. Wheat is some weeks away from flowering, but barley is starting or will soon start to head, especially in the Eastern shore of the state. Unfortunately, for barley, there are no FHB-resistant varieties available so far. So, if you have planted barley, keep monitoring closely for the FHB risk over the next couple of weeks. With the rainy spell of the last week, and some more rain forecasted this week, currently, the Epidemiological models are showing elevated FHB risk over the next 6 days. So, if your barley is starting heading you might consider applying fungicides on it. If you are still some weeks away with your barley heading, keep monitoring for the risk. Remember, the best stage for applying FHB fungicides on barley is when the heads are completely out of the boot s. The FHB fungicides are triazole-containing products (Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, Sphaerex). Do not apply strobilurin-containing fungicides. Wheat is not at a stage susceptible to FHB susceptible right now.

Some barley growers from across the state also reported stunting, yellowing, and death of barley plants in their fields. The most probable cause of this issue in my opinion is freeze injury. Sudden dips in temperature after the plants caught up after winter may have led to the issue. I have discussed this issue with the other regional pathologists from the US, and they also report similar issues in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New York. They also think it to be a result of cold injury.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Flowering is finished across all counties of Maryland now, except for a few late-planted fields in the northern part of MD that may still be flowering. Currently, the risk of FHB is low in these areas and so no fungicide application is needed. For most parts, wheat is now in the grain-filling stage and should be ready for harvesting in the next couple of weeks. We experienced some showers this season, but the temperatures remained low, so symptom development in terms of bleached spikelets is limited especially if the planted variety is resistant. It is advisable to get the DON content of the harvested grain samples analyzed before taking it to the market.

This is the last FHB risk commentary of the season for MD, but feel free to contact me (email: nidhirwt@umd.edu) if you have any questions related to wheat or barley diseases any time of the year! Wish you a plentiful harvest!

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Wheat in the Eastern shore and the Southern part of the Western shore of Maryland has finished flowering, except for a few late-planted fields. Up in the Northwestern counties of the state (Frederick, Howard, Carroll, Harford) also wheat is either flowering currently or is already past flowering. In spite of the sporadic rain events, the risk for FHB is low currently, mostly because of the cool spring season that we are experiencing. We are observing some powdery mildew, rusts, and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) in some of our test plots at Wye right now. If you are noticing these foliar diseases and thinking of controlling them, it is important to remember that Strobulurin-containing fungicides should not be applied at this stage even for controlling these. BYDV cannot be controlled by fungicides as it is a viral disease. The FHB fungicides (Prosaro/ Miravis-Ace/ Sphaerex/ Prosaro-Pro) will be able to control the other fungal foliar diseases as well.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Wheat in Maryland is mostly either flowering or finishing up flowering. As I always say, genetic resistance goes a long way in FHB management. If you planted a resistant variety the FHB risk is minimal at this point, whereas if you have a susceptible variety, the risk is catching up. So, if your wheat is flowering currently, and you have a susceptible variety, it is suggested to consider fungicide application for FHB management. The recommended stage for application of fungicides on wheat is at flowering (50% of the main tillers showing yellow anthers) or within 4-5 days of that. The fungicides effective for FHB are Miravis-Ace/ Prosaro/ Prosaro-Pro/ Sphaerex). These fungicides do not need to be tank mixed with another product for spraying. The fungicide products should be applied at the full rate recommended by the manufacturers. Strobilurin containing fungicides should not be sprayed at this stage. If your wheat is past flowering already, you don’t need to spray these fungicides. However, if it is not flowering yet, it's a good idea to keep a watch on the weather and the FHB risk.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Scab infection risk is growing across the state for all resistance classes of wheat and barley, but it is variable by location. If your barley or wheat in high risk areas is heading and approaching flowering, stay alert and consider a fungicide application. Caramba, Miravis Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro Pro, and Sphaerex all provide very good scab suppression. The Miravis Ace label allows for earlier application than Caramba or Prosaro, but best results are still achieved when application is timed after full heading in barley and flowering in wheat. If weather conditions prevent fungicide application at ideal timing, an application as soon as conditions allow will still be quite effective in reducing scab and DON production. Follow labels to determine post-harvest interval constraints for the fungicide you choose.

--Alyssa A. Collins, Associate Professor, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University

With the recent showers in the state, the risk of Fusarium Head Blight has increased slightly. However, the low temperatures have prevented the risk from being too high presently. Wheat is anywhere from heading to flowering to the end of flowering in the state right now. If you have planted an FHB-resistant variety, you should be okay to skip the fungicide sprays currently. Growers who planted susceptible wheat with their wheat flowering or are within a window of 4-5 days of flowering are advised to spray head scab fungicides: Prosaro/ Prosaro-Pro/ Miravis-Ace/ Sphaerex. These fungicides do not need to be tank mixed with another product for spraying and should be applied at the full rate recommended by the manufacturers. Strobilurin-containing fungicides should not be sprayed at this stage. With more rain coming, keep an eye on the FHB risk if your wheat is not flowering yet.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland