Winter wheat is in good shape

Current disease situation in winter wheat (2) - 2017

The weather has been relatively bleak for the past few weeks. Colder than average in April and dry. These are not conditions where the fungal diseases in wheat strike. The wheat is therefore generally healthy in our 2nd disease monitoring.

septoria
From the winter there is some septoria at the bottom of the crop. However, it now has little chance of infecting the higher leaf levels. Yellow rust increased rapidly during this period in 2016. Now we only see a small foci in some sensitive breeds here and there, which can hardly expand in this weather.

The only disease that has become slightly more likely is powdery mildew. In addition to a few affected plots in the south-east of the Netherlands, we now also see a single speck of mildew in the south-west. In the Achterhoek we found some DTR. Figure 1 shows the results of the 2nd disease monitoring. For comparison with 2017, the results in this week of 2016 are shown below the graph.

Wheat slow
Under these conditions, the wheat also grows slowly. The crop will therefore remain shorter and sturdier for the time being. Not a bad thing in itself, but when it rains, the chance of a faster spread of diseases to the higher leaf layers does increase slightly.

To secure the yield, it is important to keep the new leaves healthy. Preventive T1 spraying provides an important basis for this. The KNMI predicts showers alternating with sunny periods for the coming days. The disease pressure can then increase rapidly.

For those fields that have not yet received T1 spraying, we now recommend our powerful Aviator or Skyway 0,75 l/ha.

fig. 1: Bayer Disease Monitoring Winter Wheat. Average disease pressure in week 17, 2017 compared to 2016.

fig. 2: The degree of infection in wheat per disease in 2017. The disease pressure is clearly lower than in 2016.

Fig.3: Mildew can be found in Southeast Netherlands. Breed Johnny te Budel.

fig. 3: Here and there a spot of yellow rust. Here in a plot in Dordrecht (variety Reform).

This business case is powered by: