[Fhb-update_ma] FHB Update from MD, 05/28/19

[FHB Updates - Mid Atlantic SWW Region]

Flowering is all finished across all counties of Maryland now, except for a
few late planted fields in the northern part of MD that may still be
flowering. Currently the risk of FHB is low in these areas. For most parts,
wheat is now in the grain filling stage. With the showers that we had at
flowering, if you had a susceptible variety planted and missed application
of fungicides at the correct time, there are high chances of substantial
Fusarium Head Blight incidences. Consequently, tombstones (shriveled scabby
kernels) and DON content may be a concern for the growers. To assess the
incidence of FHB, you may randomly pick 20-25 heads of wheat per 1-2 acres
and count the spikes having bleached spikelets. Fields with high incidence
rates should be harvested separately from those with lower incidences.
Harvesting from fields with high levels of FHB incidence should be done with
higher fan speeds to remove lighter tombstone kernels. The farmers are
advised to get the DON content analyzed in the grain before taking it to the
market. 

--Nidhi Rawat, Small grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

For more details, go to the FHB Risk assessment tool at
http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu

For the latest news and updates from the U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab
Initiative, go to https://www.scabusa.org