[Fhb-update_ma] FHB Update from MD, 05/25/11

[FHB Updates - Mid Atlantic SWW Region]

The weather during the last half of May in Maryland has been conducive for incubation and possible post-flowering scab infection. It typically takes up to 3 weeks for symptoms to fully develop and be readily apparent. As we shift to hotter daytime temperatures, plant maturity will accelerate and once the crop starts to turn symptoms will be difficult to detect. Many varieties in our region start to turn straw colored by 4 weeks after flowering. Because post-flowering infection may not have time to express symptoms some clean looking fields could be infected as well. Scout fields about three weeks after flowering to determine the extent of infection. If scab is in the crop or you are concerned about unseen infection, plan to harvest it with a high fan speed to clean out the lighter weight infected seed. It is this lighter weight seed that is highest in vomitoxin. Elimination of the most highly infected seed will improve the chances that it will be accepted at the elevator or m
 ill.

 --Arv Grybauskas, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Maryland

 For more details, go to the FHB Risk Assessment Tool at http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/riskTool_2011.html