Small grain pathologists and others in the region are reporting some of the first indications of rust infecting wheat.

In South Dakota, Dr. Jeff Stein, Small Grains Pathologist with SDSU, reported June 12 that he had found both leaf and stripe rust in the SDSU Winter Wheat Breeding Program's nurseries in Aurora, SD (7 miles east of Brookings and 7 miles west of the Minnesota border). The leaf rust was exclusively on material that is of older genetics (e.g. Scout 66) or not commercially grown in the region (e.g. PS 279). He observed that no rust was found on breeding lines or commercial varieties in yield trials, except for one plot in the breeder's nursery that had stripe rust lesions on two leaves.

Observations from the North Dakota IPM survey indicate that the first leaf rust infections were found June 16th in HRSW fields in Richland County (SE corner of the state), according to Marcia McMullen, Small Grains Pathologist with NDSU. The incidence and severity was at reported at trace levels; wheat was at the jointing stage. Dr. McMullen further cautioned winter wheat growers to be aware of the risk for scab infection as winter wheat approaches the heading stage in the southeast and southcentral areas of ND. This risk is based on the NDSU scab forecasting models available at:

http://www.ndsu.edu/scabforecast  

Susceptible to moderately susceptible cultivars are at most risk, according to Dr. McMullen. In a 2007 winter wheat trial at Lisbon, ND the cultivars Wendy, CDC Falcon, CDC Buteo, Jagalene, and NuDakota had the greatest severities of scab. The NDSU Winter Wheat Production Guide indicates that other cultivars, such as Wesley, Yellowstone, and Nuplains also are very susceptible to scab. The variety report can be found at:

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/variety/hrww.htm  

Observations from southwest MN by Bruce Potter, IPM Specialist at the South West Research & Outreach Center (Lamberton), confirmed the presence of leaf rust last Friday (6/13/08) in the winter wheat trial. In the southeast, staff at the USDA, ARS—Cereal Disease Laboratory in St. Paul have reported trace amounts of wheat leaf rust found in susceptible spring wheat plots at St. Paul, Minnesota on June 14, according to researchers housed at the . The staff at the lab compile regular reports on cereal disease occurrence from around the US. To access the reports, go to:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=36400500  

Don’t forget daily updates on cereal disease risk can be found at the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers web site and can be found at: