Be sure to call us with any signs of wheat scab. Things to look for: Scab is early identified in the field when healthy heads are green. Scab-infested spikelets appear prematurely bleached. Often spikelets in one-third to one-half of the head are affected. In several cases the entire head may be colonized. The bleached spikelets are either sterile or contain shriveled and discolored seed. Close examination of affected spikelets may show superficial pink mycelia at the base of the colonized spikelet. The fungi that cause scab overwinter on infested crop residues such as cornstalks, wheat stubble, and stubble from other grasses. During flowering of the wheat, spores are produced on these scab-infested residues. During moist, warm weather the wind-borne scab spores infect and colonize the spent anther cases (pollen producing sacks) of the flowering wheat and go on to invade the spikelet and developing seed.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:49:21 +0000
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