Suppression of Disease with Agronomic Practices in Recently Released Spring Wheat and Winter Wheat Cultivars
Suppression of Disease with Agronomic Practices in Recently Released Spring Wheat and Winter Wheat Cultivars, 2007 This study was designed to examine whether a synergy exists between chloride (Cl-) nutrition and fungicide application in winter and spring wheat. The study was conducted at two sites in North Dakota in 2007. Heading applications of Cl- were not effective in reducing scab in winter wheat. Soil application of Cl- as calcium chloride (CaCl2) reduced leaf diseases at one site.
IPNI-2006-USA-ND13
21 Mar 2006
Justification
Wheat diseases (leaf and stem rust, tan spot, head scab, and root rot) can reduce wheat yield when the infection is obvious. However, these diseases also may occur at low background levels especially root rot where the damage and yield drag is not readily observed. In order to maintain profitability, wheat growers should have several options to suppress diseases even at low levels. Low disease incidence could reduce yield by 5-10% and makes treatments of any kind economical. Fungicides (Tilt, Quadris etc.) are available, but quite expensive and somewhat hazardous to use. A soil Cl application preplant, or a foliarly applied Cl application later in the season if effective is less hazardous and more economical to apply which means greater profitability. However, previous research has shown some diseases in only particular varieties could respond to Cl applications. So it would also be important to assess disease incidence and suppression in newer varieties of spring and winter wheat to identify alternatives to expensive and hazardous fungicides.