Microbe:
The microbes that cause wheat blight (commonly called rust, scab,
smut) are fungi. The correct name for blight is Fusarium
blight
Kingdom: Mycetae
General overview of wheat blight:
Head blight not only reduces yields, but the grain is of less
quality. It affects wheat, oats, corn, rye, and barley. It also
affects bluegrass, crabgrass, quackgrass, fostail, wild rye, and
cheat. Heads are not filled out, and what is there is of poor
quality.
Prevention, Cure, and/or Treatment of wheat fungus:
Prevention is difficult, since climate is a major factor in wheat
fungi. They thrive in moist and warm seasons where dews are
prevelant. Tillage and burning can help, as well as spraying
fungicides.
Diagnosis:
Although it does not affect the whole head, the head is not full,
and some kernels are not of high quality, and are sometimes lost
in thrashing.
Related sites on the web:
[University
of Missouri-Columbia]
[Minnesota
Association of wheat Growers]
Go to the UMC Home Page
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