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Stripe Rust Update, April 6, 2017

Posted by elliott.j.marston | December 4, 2017

Xianming Chen

Stripe Rust is widely occurring in the Pacific Northwest

On April 5, we were checking wheat fields in Whitman, Garfield, Columbia, Walla Walla, Benton, Franklin, and Adams counties of Washington and Umatilla County of Oregon.  Winter wheat ranged from Feekes 2 to 7.   We found stripe rust in all of these counties and about 80% of over 70 fields checked.   For most fields, it did not take very long to spot rusting leaves.

In the Palouse region, several rust leaves were found in susceptible wheat borders in our experimental field near Pullman (Figure 1) and a commercial field planted with SY Ovation between Albion and Colfax, about 10 miles north of Pullman (Figure 2).  Rust was on low leaves and incidence (number of plants) was less than 1%.  About 1-5% incidents of stripe rust were found in fields between Colfax and Dusty in Whitman County.  The appearance of stripe rust in the Palouse region is about one month early than normal and not too much later than 2011 (the most severe epidemic) or last year (severe epidemic).

Stripe rust is more active in the Walla Walla (Washington) and Pendleton (Umatilla County, Oregon) areas.  In our experimental nursery north of Walla Walla, back to March 8, it took quite bit time to find rust in the spreader rows, yesterday we saw rust of 100% incidence, over 40% severity on low leaves, and appearing on top leaves (Figure 3).   Many fields in these areas have been sprayed with fungicides.

In the Hermiston (also Umatilla County, Oregon) area and remaining counties of Washington, stripe rust incidence ranged from less than 1% to about 5%, occurring on single leaves or on many leaves in rows up to several feet long (Figure 4).    Generally, the rust prevalence and severity in these areas is lower than this time of last year, due to the lower temperatures.

So far, stripe rust is widespread in the Pacific Northwest.  Weather conditions will continue favoring stripe rust infection and development in April, and we will have another year of severe epidemic.  HTAP resistance is not expected to fully function until night temperatures are consistently above 50oF and day-time temperatures above 65oF.  The general recommendations are the same as those made in the previous stripe rust update.  For winter wheat, fungicide application at the herbicide application time is needed for fields planted with varieties rated 4 and above in the Seed Buyers Guide.  For fields planted with varieties with 1-3 ratings, fungicide application is recommended only if rust is above 5% incidence (not off-type plants).  Second application of fungicides may be needed three to four weeks after the first application when active stripe rust pustules start appearing.  For spring wheat, resistant varieties should be selected to plant.  Fungicide application may be needed if rust appears in the fields.

Stripe Rust in the Country

So far, stripe rust has been reported in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Kansas, Washington, Oregon, and Wisconsin.  Stripe rust was reported in Louisiana and Texas in the first week of February, but prevalence and severity has been low.   The early appearance of stripe rust in Wisconsin indicates that the fungus has overwintered there.   Stripe rust was reported in Colorado and Michigan last November, but has not been reported so far in this spring.  Although stripe rust has been low in the southern part of Great Plains, the pathogen has appeared in southern Kansas and still has time to spread further north and east.  The storm from Texas and Louisiana to Nebraska and southern Iowa in the week of March 22 may have brought rust spores from the south to the north.  If infection occurred during that week, stripe rust would show up in the central Great Plains in one to two weeks.

close up of wheat leaf with rust spores

Figure 1.  Stripe rust in an experimental field near Pullman, April 5, 2017

close up of wheat leaf with stripe rust spores

Figure 2.  Stripe rust in a commercial field in the Palouse region, April 5, 2017

close up of wheat seedlings with rust spores

Figure 3. Stripe rust developing in a rust nursery near Walla Walla, WA, April 5, 2017

close up of wheat in field with rust spores

Figure 4. Small “hot spot” of stripe rust in a commercial winter wheat field along Highway 26 in Adams County, WA, April 5, 2017

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