The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Below are a few notes I have compiled on biology and management of the stripe rust fungus.

• Fungal spores attack wheat consuming the nutrients synthesized by the host plant.

• Spread by green bridge and wind dispersal. Community disease like WSMV with multiple infection cycles.

• Spores on the ground are dead because they need living plant tissue to survive. Spores will over-winter on volunteer plants. Wet weather in the fall will promote stripe rust survival.

• Do not spray fungicides past the flowering stage.

• Check labels to make sure you don’t exceed the amount of fu...