A survey of a dozen winter and spring wheat field in southern Alberta has turned up traces in two winter wheat fields, but none in spring wheat fields.
A stripe rust update issued Thursday from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development reported the finding from Dr. Denis Gaudet and his crew at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge station, which surveyed the fields in the Bow Island/Medicine Hat area.
Recent weather conditions may have slowed stripe rust progression, as has been the case in the U.S., AARD said.
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It’s too late to spray for stripe rust control on winter wheat, which is mostly in the grain fill stage. In spring wheat, meanwhile, the absence of stripe rust in spring in most southern Alberta means spraying is “not warranted at this time,” AARD said.
That said, “producers should be vigilant and monitor their fields for stripe rust in spring wheat for the next two to three weeks until the threat has passed.”
There have been “anecdotal reports” of isolated outbreaks, AARD said.
Most of the popular Canada Western red spring (CWRS) varieties such as Lillian, Carberry and Glenn are resistant. Barrie, the exception, is “quite susceptible.” Some CPS varieties are susceptible also.
Grain growers who have questions about the stripe rust resistance of a particular variety are urged to consult the provincial variety recommendation guides to find its stripe rust resistance ratings.
Related story:
Stripe rust ‘evolving rapidly’ in southern Alberta, June 18, 2012
