Puccinia graminis
Kuvu
The first symptoms occur 7 to 15 days after infection. Reddish-brown, oval to elongated pustules break out of stems, leaf sheaths, leaves and occasionally on inflorescences. Stems and leaf sheaths are mainly affected. The powdery pustules grow and often coalesce to cover large areas. The resulting damage to the plant epidermis gives the affected parts a rough appearance. If the infection is severe, stems can be weakened and plants buckle or fall over in heavy winds and rain. The fungus hinders water and nutrient transport and causes water loss, reduced plant vigor and reduced nutrient transport to the grain. The grains are shriveled, resulting in reduced yield. The whole plant is weakened, making the risk of an infection with other pathogens high. Yield losses can be serious if the disease is well developed before the grain is completely filled.
Sorry, we don't know of any alternative treatment against Puccinia triticina . Please get in touch with us in case you know of something that might help to fight this disease. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Always consider an integrated approach with preventive measures together with biological treatments if available. Fungicides containing tebuconazole or prothioconazole can be used to control the fungi. For preventive treatment, fungicides containing triazoles and strobilurins can be applied. Some degree of resistance has been observed with strobilurins.
The symptoms are caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis, which is an obligate parasite that needs living plant tissue to survive. Spores can be dispersed over great distances by the wind and germinate when in contact with free water. Other means of dispersion are machinery and vehicles, tools, clothing and footwear. The fungus infects the plant through natural pores on the leaf surface, a process that is favored by low light intensity (early morning or late afternoon) and prolonged leaf wetness caused by frequent dews or rains. Stem rust is also favored by hot days (25-30°C) and mild nights (15-20°C) conducive to the formation of dew. The disease is generally confined to wheat, but other plants can act as vectors or be affected too (other cereals, grasses and species of Berberis shrubs).