Alyssa K. Betts, Extension Field Crops Pathologist; akoehler@udel.edu
Barley harvest is underway, and wheat is quickly approaching maturity. Symptoms of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) become a bit harder to see as wheat heads dry down, but you can look for pink to orange coloration and you may see some black structures which are fruiting bodies of the fungus (Figure 1). In these infected areas kernels will be shriveled and lightweight (Figure 2). Tips for managing crops with FHB were shared in the May 24 update. While walking fields late in the season you may also observe sooty molds or grain with black point discoloration. These are different than FHB resulting from saprophytic fungi favored by humidity and rain events.
Figure 1. Spikelet at the base of a wheat head with bleaching and orange sporulation due to Fusarium Head Blight.
Figure 2. Healthy kernels (left) White, shriveled, scabby kernels from FHB (right).
Figure 3. Saprophytic fungi growing on wheat kernels.
Resources for 2024 Corn and Soybean Fungicide Efficacy
We have received a few seedling disease samples in corn and soybean. As growth progresses, we will begin to monitor for foliar diseases. The Crop Protection Network has multiple resources to aid in disease scouting and selection of fungicide products. The Corn Disease Working Group has recently updated the 2024 Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Corn Diseases. In soybeans, the North Central Regional Committee on Soybean Diseases (NCERA-137) has updated recommendations for 2024 Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Soybean Foliar Diseases. Each of these tables provide rating of product performance across multiple diseases based on trials conducted by Extension specialists across the country. Products with highest efficacy are categorized as “E=Excellent”.