By Andy Luke, MU Field Specialist in Agronomy
Now is the time for wheat producers to control FHB, or head scab, a fungal disease that reduces yields and can impact the quality of the grain. In addition, the disease can produce mycotoxins, sometimes referred to as DON or vomitoxins, that are harmful to both humans and animals, and whose presence will lead to price docks.
FHB infects fields at flowering, and symptoms can take up to three weeks to appear. The first symptoms are generally bleached spikelets on an otherwise green head. Upon further inspection, orange to pink colored spores can be seen. As symptoms progress, the grain will shrink and wrinkle, leading to poor quality grain with low test weights.
An online risk-assessment tool from Penn State University can help producers make decisions about applying fungicides. The tool uses weather data to determine the risk of FHB infection and can help determine whether fungicide applications are warranted. The tool currently predicts our risk of infection as low, but unpredictable weather between now and flowering can change our risk quickly.
For more information contact Andy Luke at 660-425-6434 or [email protected].
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]