Treat your wheat!

In the most recent Agronomy eUpdate, Kansas State University Pathologists Kelsey Andersen and Erick De Wolf urged Kansas wheat producers to utilize a seed treatment on wheat planted this fall. Kansas wheat harvested in summer of 2020 saw yield losses and dockage for increased levels of loose smut and common bunt. Common bunt survives on the seed coat of untreated wheat and infects wheat coleoptiles, the protective sheath on a grass seedling, as the plant emerges. Signs or symptoms of a common bunt infection aren’t evident until later in the season when already compromised spore-filled grains are apparent. Not only can common bunt decrease yield and overall quality, but it can also limit sale of the grain.Seed treatments labeled for control of common bunt and loose smut are part of effective disease control strategy. Stamina F4 Cereals provides broad-spectrum, systemic seed and seedling disease control for winter wheat and is labeled for control of loose smut and common bunt (see Stamina F4 label excerpt below). Powered by Xemium along with F500, triticonazole, and metalaxyl, not only does Stamina F4 Cereals provide excellent disease control, but it also helps improve emergence and vigor under stressful conditions resulting in faster and more consistent germination and seedling emergence. Contact your local BASF Representative about treating your wheat with Stamina F4 this season!

For more information from Kansas State concerning common bunt check out the links below:

https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2955.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg-fpllsjW4