Warmer Weather May Increase Wheat Leaf Diseases?

Albert Tenuta - Field Crop Plant Pathologist /OMAFRA Ridgetown
16 May 2008

The majority of the wheat is in excellent conditions and disease pressure has been very low (Note the grin on my friend Peter Johnson's face!) but we have been here before and things can change quickly. For these reasons it is imperative to continue to scout wheat especially the upper two leaves which account for the majority of the plant's yield potential. Next week's forecasts for continued wet and increased temperatures could promote disease development. Powdery mildew has been to date the most problematic in some fields with tan spot, Septoria, and Cephalosporium stripe (Chatham area) also being seen at low levels in certain fields/regions. Virus testing has resulted in confirmation for soil-borne mosaic virus and barely yellow dwarf to a lesser degree. Leaf rust levels have been low in the surrounding US states but reports are beginning to come in from these areas as well as the odd report from Ontario. Continue to track the weather, scout for these diseases as well as determine your Fusarium head blight risk. If leaf disease levels remain low a fungicide application for Fusarium will help manage the fungal leaf diseases.

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