Whats behind the 2004 Fusarium outbreak?
For next year, think of spraying in the same way as fire insurance — it’s there if you need it and good news if you didn’t by PAT LYNCH The big issue with the 2004 wheat crop was Fusarium — and not just in Ontario but also across the winter wheat-producing area of the United States. Lots of questions and some answers as you prepare for the next crop. How come Fusarium was so bad in 2004? Fusarium is weather-related. Frequent moisture around wheat pollination time increases the probability of Fusarium by allowing the Fusarium fungi to produce spores and the spores to germinate and infect. In 2004, the effect of cool temperatures was overstated. Moisture is more critical than temperature. We had a good combination of temperature and moisture for Fusarium in 2004. There were enough spores being produced; the pollinating time was extended by the cooler weather, and wetness was frequent during this time, allowing infection. The 2004 crop was more vulnerable than average because of uneven
