1. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 1 Wheat Diseases (Fusarium Head Blight) Presentation by: Chad Lee, Grain Crops Extension Specialist University of Kentucky

2. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 2 Most of the information comes from: ID-125: A Comprehensive Guide to Wheat Management in Kentucky

3. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 3 Objectives Fusarium Head Blight (Head Scab) Management Options

4. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 4 Three Critical Management Issues 1.Seeding: Date, Depth, Rate 2.N Rate and Timing 3.Fusarium Head Blight

5. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 5 Disease Management Choose disease-tolerant varieties. Rotate Crops –Reduces Pythium root rot and take-all. Other disease are airborne –Stagonospora, Septoria, Fusarium –Rotation has less impact on these diseases.

6. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 6 Fusarium Head Blight

7. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 7 Year Harvested Acres Planted (x1,000) Acres Harvested (x1,000) Yield per Acre 200155036066 200253033053 200350035059 200453038054 Wheat Production Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service Record High Moderate Disease High Disease Low Disease High Disease

8. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 8 YearProductionPriceValue (x1000 bu)($/Bu)(x $1000) 200123,7602.5059,400 200217,1603.0151,652 200321,7003.2566,495 200420,520 Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service

9. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 9 Fusarium Head Blight Pathogen: Fusarium graminearum Host: Wheat Disease: Fusaorium Head Blight (head scab, FHB)

10. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 10 Disease Management: FHB Fusarium Head Blight Symptoms visible in Feekes 11.1- 11.5 Warm, moist conditions during Feekes 10.51-10.54 favor development of FHB.

11. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 11 Disease Management: FHB Fungicides: Folicur, Section 18 in KY –Moderate suppression of FHB. –Effective for low levels of FHB, but not for high levels of FHB. –Very difficult to overcome favorable weather timed with crop stage. Varying wheat varieties/planting dates may help avoid FHB in some fields.

12. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 12 Disease Management: FHB Probably single-most damaging factor to wheat yields in Kentucky in 2003 and 2004. No apparent differences between conventional and no-till wheat. Airborne spores likely “swamp” most fields, regardless of tillage history.

13. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 13 Variety Development

14. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 14 Variety Development Dr. Van Sanford has an active program looking for Type II resistance to FHB –Type II: spread of FHB in the head of wheat is slowed Some developmental lines express Type II The goal: combine Type II with yield

15. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 15

16. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 16 Variety Development Syngenta has reported to being close to developing a biotech wheat with resistance to FHB –Would produce enzymes to fight off the pathogen Close: 2008? 2009? 2010?

17. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 17 Disease Management Seed Fungicide Treatments Combination mixes such as Raxil- Thiram or Dividend –Reduce soil-born pathogens such as Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Septoria, and Stagonospora –Improves germination rates of infected seeds (i.e. Fusarium-infected seeds) by an average of 15%

18. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 18 Weed Management Burndown Herbicides (no-till) –Gramoxone –Glyphosate

19. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 19