Stripe Rust Identified on Volunteer Wheat in Burley Area October 26, 2011

Dr. Juliet Marshal identified stripe rust in a field of volunteer wheat right off the highway at the Burley exit.  The volunteer wheat looked like it has been growing for weeks if not a couple of months, and was not heading so it is probably winter wheat.  This means it could host the rust through the winter and be a source of inoculum in the spring, or it will be a source for infection this fall for the local winter wheat.

This puts us in the same situation as we were in this time last year. However, the temperatures this morning in the Burley area were about 25 degrees F, and yesterday 21-22 degrees F. That MAY have killed the stripe rust. We will continue to keep an eye on things.

At this time, we are taking a wait-and-see approach. IF the stripe rust survives the winter, then it will be very important to spray susceptible varieties with a full rate of fungicides at the time herbicides are applied in the spring. Winter grain fields are already planted, so variety selection will be important in the spring wheat – consider planting resistant spring wheat varieties.

As this disease spreads so easily on the wind, be a good neighbor and destroy volunteer especially if that volunteer is Brundage or any other susceptible variety.