Alyssa Koehler, Extension Field Crops Pathologist; akoehler@udel.edu
Wheat is in the jointing stage and we are a few weeks out from thinking about management for Fusarium Head Blight. The Fusarium Risk Tool http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/ is live for the season and is a resource you can use to help predict FHB risk. There have been some updates to the system since last season. When you enter to the tool, you will see the risk based on the current date. There is a calendar icon that allows you to look back in time by selecting a different day of interest. You can also now set the forecast period for current (0), 24, 48, or 72 hrs from the time you are looking.
Currently most of the state and country are at low risk. High humidity, heavy dew, rain, and night temperatures above 50°F favor FHB infection. A menu icon in the upper left corner allows users to customize model predictions to account for using wheat varieties with different levels of genetic susceptibility to Fusarium head blight (Figure 1). In the top right corner you will see a microphone that, when clicked on, will show national and regional commentary from state extension pathologists (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Fusarium Risk Tool model on April 14, 2021. The menu in the upper left corner allows for customization of genetic susceptibility to FHB. http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/
Figure 2. Clicking on the microphone icon in the upper right corner will bring up commentary for the US or individual state updates that have been posted.