Stripe Rust Found On The Palouse

According to Washington State university’s Dr. Xianming Chen, stripe rust has been discovered in winter wheat on the Palouse. Earlier this week, stripe rust was discovered on susceptible varieties in WSU’s experimental fields around Pullman. This is the first observation of stripe rust of this season on the Palouse. The same fields were checked on April 22nd and 24th, but no rust was found.

This week’s rust was discovered on low leaves, indicating that the infections occurred last fall and overwintered. The stripe rust incidences were below 1%, but actively producing spores.

The time of rust appearance is about normal for the Palouse region and about one week earlier than last year.

Winter wheat fields planted with susceptible or moderately susceptible varieties (ratings 5-9) should be sprayed with fungicide, if the fields have not been sprayed. Similarly, susceptible or moderately susceptible spring wheat fields should be sprayed at the time of herbicide application.

So far, wheat stripe rust has been reported in Oregon, Washington, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, California and Kansas. Stripe rust is widespread in Oklahoma and turned into the telial stage in late April, and stripe rust has reportedly been spreading in Kansas.

Barley stripe rust has been reported in Corvallis, Ore.

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