Wheat Stripe Rust, Leaf Rust
Found in Texas Wheat
K-State to host May 3 webinar for growers, applicators, others.
Several cases of severe leaf rust and stripe rust in wheat were found in multiple locations around College Station, Texas, during March — even in some varieties thought to be resistant to the disease.
Those varieties, said Kansas State University (K-State) plant pathologist Erick DeWolf, include Fuller, Santa Fe, Art, Overley, Jagger and Jagalene. Wheat disease specialists and breeders are working to determine if the reports represent an underlying change in the stripe rust population within the region.
"There is a possibility that these varieties have some adult plant resistance that will slow the progress of disease, but the severity of disease is cause for concern," DeWolf said.
"Cool temperatures and frequent rainfall through the region has favored the early development of these diseases," he said.
To help growers, consultants, applicators, Extension agents and others in the wheat industry learn about the identification and management of leaf and stripe rust on wheat, K-State Research and Extension will host a Wheat Rust Webinar May 3 from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
The webinar will include discussion of the identification, management and tolerance of wheat varieties to stripe and leaf rust along with a discussion of the different fungicide options available, said Brian Olson, Northwest Area agronomist with K-State Research and Extension. Time is built into the agenda for questions and answers.
Information and registration is available online at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/473120000.
"Several other varieties known to have intermediate or moderately susceptible reactions to stripe rust are also showing signs of severe disease," DeWolf said. "These varieties include TAM 112 and Endurance. TAM 111 currently is not showing symptoms of disease at the Texas location."
Leaf rust also has been reported at low to moderate levels in multiple locations in Texas. Varieties impacted by leaf rust appear to be those previously known to be susceptible, such as Jagger and Jagalene.
"I believe these reports of stripe rust and leaf rust have important implications for wheat producers in Kansas," DeWolf said. "These are the highest severities for stripe rust in recent years, and the severity of the disease on varieties previously thought to be resistant is cause for concern. Fuller, Santa Fe and Art are all widely grown in central Kansas. TAM 112 is widely grown in western Kansas and is known to be moderately susceptible to stripe rust regardless of changes in the pathogen population."
DeWolf said that producers do not need to take immediate management action, but that they should monitor the disease situation carefully.
"We should get a much clearer indication of which varieties are vulnerable to stripe rust and leaf rust by the middle of April," the plant pathologist said. "At this time, I believe we have a moderate risk for severe stripe rust and leaf rust in Kansas. Growers should be investigating the potential costs of fungicides in case they need to respond to emerging disease threats in early May."
More information about leaf rust and stripe rust is available in a new K-State Research and Extension publication that can be found online at www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/plant2/mf2919.pdf.
