As we move into wheat planting season here in Kansas, seed treatments are strongly advised for seed that is being saved from previous seasons. During the 2019-2020 season, we saw higher-than-normal levels of common bunt and loose smut throughout the state. Common bunt, in particular, can result in both yield and quality loss. Many producers received discounts on their wheat after the 2020 harvest. Fungicide seed treatments are an important tool to avoid even larger losses in the 2020-2021 growing season.
Low quality wheat can result not only in losses for individual producers, but can also dramatically reduce the quality of grain destined for the market. “These diseases have market implications”, said Aaron Harries, V.P. of research and operations for Kansas Wheat. “There were instances this past harvest of farmers receiving discounts at their local elevator because of bunt and smut problems.”
The good news is that common bunt and loose smut are very effectively controlled with the use of seed treatments. In particular, we recommend products that have at least the active ingredient difenoconazole (Trade Names: Cruiser Maxx Vibrance Cereals, Vibrance Extreme, Salient TMI, and Dividend Extreme).
For more information about common bunt and maximizing the efficacy of seed treatments, check out this 2020 Kansas State Research and Extension YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg-fpllsjW4
Kelsey Andersen Onofre, Extension Plant Pathologist
andersenk@ksu.edu
Erick De Wolf, Plant Pathologist
dewolf1@ksu.edu
Tags: wheat fungicide seed treatment