Ohio wheat could be at risk for head scab, if rain coincides with flowering

Ohio wheat could be facing a risk of head scab if any rain, coupled with warm temperatures, coincides with crop flowering.

"Flowering is the growth stage where wheat is most susceptible to head scab infection," said Pierce Paul, Ohio State University plant pathologist. "We expect wheat to be flowering mid to late this week or early next week, and if it rains during that time, we might have a high risk of head scab development."

Head scab or Fusarium head blight is a very significant disease, not only because it causes yield loss, but also because contaminants associated with the disease called mycotoxins pose a health threat to humans and animals. The effects of the disease can impact growers, millers, bakers and consumers. Growers who plant wheat into corn residue are more at risk for head scab infection because the fungus can survive in the corn residue and then easily spread to wheat if weather situations are right.

Growers can follow the latest on head scab risk by logging on to the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center ( http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu ) -- an early warning system run jointly by Ohio State University, Penn State University, Purdue University, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University and the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. The system uses the flowering dates of wheat and weather data to predict the risk of head scab in wheat fields throughout the growing season for 23 states.

Paul said Ohio growers have expressed concern because of the rainy conditions they have been experienced during the past few weeks.

"Don't get overly excited, just be vigilant," Paul said. "Keep your eyes on weather conditions as we approach flowering and keep track of your growth stage, and look at scab forecasting system for whether there will be a risk of scab or not. If it gets dry the next week and a half, the risk will be very low."

If high risk is imminent, growers can suppress head scab by applying fungicides at the time of flowering. Proline, Prosaro and Caramba fungicides are the most effective fungicides against head scab, Paul said. However, they will not provide 100 percent control.

"Efficacy against head scab varies and tends to be between 50 to 55 percent on average," Paul said. "Fungicide efficacy against vomitoxin is also variable, ranging from 40 to 45 percent for the top three fungicides."

According to the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service, 70 percent of Ohio's wheat crop is in good to excellent condition.

"The wheat crop is looking great, which is another reason why we hope head scab risk remains at a minimum," Paul said. "If we don't have disease problems and the weather is cool during grain fill, we might have a bumper crop."

Ohio wheat growers produce some of the highest quality soft red winter wheat sought after by millers and bakers in the nation. Ohio's wheat production brings in more than $250 million to the state's agricultural industry, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

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