NF599 Wheat Disease Fact Sheet No. 1: Management Program for Rust Diseases of Wheat

This NebFact discusses rust diseases in wheat and management practices. Leaf rust, stripe rust and stem rust in wheat occur from mid-May to July. In leaf rust it can occur again in September to October. Symptoms of leaf rust include oval reddish-orange pustules on leaves; stripe rust symptoms include bright yellow-orange pustules between the veins in stripes; stem rust symptoms include reddish-brown oblong pustules with frayed margins on leaves and stems. To manage the disease, plant varieties with at least a moderate level of resistence. Select varieties that differ in parantage, maturity and disease reaction. Fungicide can be applied but criteria must be followed.