Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist; bobmul@udel.edu
After looking at two of the three wheat variety trial plots, disease levels continue to be low. There is some speckled leaf blotch caused by Septoria tritici on lower leaves in both trials in Sussex County. The amount present is low in the canopy and too little to have any affect on plant health at this time. The rain of last Friday may have produced favorable weather for scab if wheat was flowering at that time. The rain forecast for Thursday night and Friday may have little effect on most of the wheat in DE since most has flowered and may not be susceptible. Growers need to remember that the fungicides applied for leaf diseases at heading or earlier will have little or no suppression of scab (head blight). It appears that there is little to no Proline, Caramba, or Folicur available for scab suppression this season.