Frost Injury in Wheat?

There have been limited reports of frost injury in wheat this week from the Ridgetown/Highgate (East Chatham-Kent) and the Rodney (West Elgin) area. The damage as expected could be found on light soils (sand to sandy-loam) and often in the low areas of the field. Leaves injured by spring frost appear water-soaked at first, then dark green. These injured leaves dry out and quickly turn brown or injury similar to "sun scald" in corn. With the forecast for cold night-time temperatures and the potential for frost again on Monday May 22nd the potential exists for injury especially in advanced fields entering the flag leaf emerged to boot stage. (Table 1).

An interesting note - prior to 2004, significant spring frost injury in winter wheat had not been seen in the southwest for over 20 years but it has now occurred 3 out of the past 4 years (2004, 2006 and 2007).

Table 1. Temperatures that cause freeze injury to wheat at spring growth stages and symptoms and yield effect of spring freeze injury.

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