OSU: Fungicide Applications Effective In Managing Stripe Rust

A new study from Oregon State University shows that fungicide applications are effective in managing stripe rust in winter wheat.

“Our results indicated that the flag leaf application was much more important to preserving yield, than the herbicide timing application earlier in the season," said Christina Hagerty, associate professor of plant pathology based at OSU’s Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center.  "And so that's going to be different from year to year. Typically what we see is the earlier stripe rust arrives in the season, the bigger hit we're going to have on yield.” 

The study focused on evaluating the efficacy of different fungicide treatments on yield and stripe rust severity in winter wheat.  The research found: 

• The untreated control plots had the highest stripe rust severity 
• Fungicide treatments significantly reduced stripe rust severity 
• Untreated control plots had the lowest yield 
• All fungicide treatments applied at flag leaf timing resulted in higher yields compared to the untreated control 
• Tilt, Quilt, and Trivapro applied at herbicide timing also improved yields over the non-treated control
• Fungicide applications at flag leaf timing improved test weight compared to the untreated control
• The fungicides Tilt, Quilt and Trivapro applied at herbicide timing also enhanced test weight

Hagerty said their research indicated that a Provaloren/Propiconazole mix is very adequate and effective for keeping that infection low.

“The thing that we advise caution with is use of Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors, or SDHI's for stripe rust," she said.  "We're seeing new chemistries that are very expensive, that include these SDHIs, and our work indicates that these more expensive fungicides are not any more effective at controlling stripe rust. So, in terms of thinking about cash flow and farm economics, we really advise taking a good look at those more expensive fungicides and consider using them for other disease control, but not stripe rust.”

Click Here to read the study from OSU.

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