Seed treatment is a crucial step in ensuring the healthy growth of wheat crops. Two common diseases that can affect wheat crops are loose smut and flag smut. Here is some important information regarding seed treatment for these diseases.
Loose smut is caused by the fungus Ustilago tritici and can result in significant yield losses. The best way to prevent loose smut is through seed treatment. There are several fungicides available that can help protect against loose smut, including triadimefon, triadimenol, and carboxin. These fungicides can be applied as a seed treatment before planting.
It’s important to note that some strains of Ustilago tritici are resistant to certain fungicides, so it’s best to rotate the fungicides used for seed treatment to avoid resistance issues. It’s also recommended to plant certified seed that has been treated for loose smut to reduce the risk of infection.
Flag smut is another fungal disease that can affect wheat crops. It is caused by the fungus Urocystis agropyri and can also result in yield losses. Seed treatment is the most effective way to prevent flag smut. Like with loose smut, there are several fungicides available that can be applied as a seed treatment before planting, including carboxin, triadimefon, and triadimenol.
Farmers should also be mindful of their crop rotation practices as flag smut can persist in soil for several years and infect susceptible crops in the future. Crop rotation can help break the disease cycle.
In addition to using fungicides, farmers can take other preventative measures to reduce the risk of both loose smut and flag smut. These include keeping fields free of debris and removing infected plants as soon as symptoms appear. Farmers can also choose to plant more resistant wheat varieties that are less susceptible to these diseases.
In conclusion, seed treatment is a critical component of preventing loose smut and flag smut in wheat crops. Farmers should be mindful of resistance issues and utilize a rotation of fungicides to protect against these diseases. Along with other preventative measures, this can help ensure healthy and productive wheat crops.