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Cause of Wheat Scab
Fungi species in the genus Fusarium are the causal agents in scab. These fungi overwinter on crop residue, such as cornstalks, wheat stubble and grass residue. Corn, in particular, is readily colonized by these fungi, and scab can be quite severe where wheat follows corn in a rotation and the cornstalks are not plowed under. Spores produced on crop residue (conidia and ascospores) are blown by wind to wheat heads where germination and infection take place during warm, moist weather. Flower parts, glumes and other portions of the spikes may be affected, and infections are most numerous and serious during anthesis. Rainy weather or sprinkler irrigation during this time period predisposes plants to the disease.
No highly resistant wheat varieties are currently available. However, within maturity groups, some varieties are less frequently infected and have more tolerance to the presence of the disease. With very heavy inoculum and appropriate weather, any variety can suffer significant damage but differences in scab severity among varieties in the field are known. This information is available in current variety description circulars or in the current NDSU Extension Crop Production Guide. See variety description key word in the Durum/Hrs Menu.
For more information see http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/smgrains/pp804w.htm
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