This document summarizes information from a presentation on wheat diseases like Fusarium Head Blight. It discusses three critical management issues for wheat production, including seeding date and depth. It focuses on Fusarium Head Blight, describing the pathogen (Fusarium graminearum), symptoms, and conditions that favor disease development. Management options discussed include fungicide application, variety selection, and crop rotation. The document also covers variety development efforts to improve resistance and the potential for a biotech wheat with resistance to Fusarium Head Blight.

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
2001 550 360 66
2002 530 330 53
2003 500 350 59
2004 530 380 54
Wheat Production
Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service
Record High
Moderate Disease
High Disease
Low Disease
High Disease

8. Chad Lee © 2006 University of Kentucky 8
Year Production Price Value
(x1000 bu) ($/Bu) (x $1000)
2001 23,760 2.50 59,400
2002 17,160 3.01 51,652
2003 21,700 3.25 66,495
2004 20,520
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