HRS Wheat Variety Response to Foliar Fungicide and Plant Density

Greg Endres and Blaine Schatz

The primary objective of the trial was to evaluate the performance of three commonly-grown hard red spring (HRS) wheat varieties to foliar fungicide and plant density. The irrigated trial was established with 'Alsen', ‘Ingot’ and ‘Reeder’ HRS wheat planted on 2002 soybean ground (with supplemental wheat straw) at 1 and 2 million pure live seeds (PLS)/acre (A) on May 21 at the Carrington Center. An untreated check was compared to a fungicide treatment of Folicur at 4 fl oz/A + NIS (Induce) at 0.125% v/v. Folicur was applied to partially lodged wheat in the early-bloom stage (Feekes 10.51) with a hand-boom plot sprayer equipped with 80015 twin jet nozzles delivering 16 gpa at 40 psi. Flag leaf disease (tan spot and Septoria spp.) and leaf rust were evaluated on July 28 and August 6. Fusarium head blight (scab) was visually evaluated on August 8 at the soft-dough stage.

The seeding rate of 1 and 2 million PLS/A established 1.0 and 1.8 million seedling plants/A, respectively. Disease, seed yield and test weight were not impacted by seeding rate. The high seeding rate slightly increased plant lodging. Folicur reduced disease and improved yield by 23% (13.9 bushels/A) and test weight by 2% (1.4 lb/bushel). Folicur reduced DON in Ingot and Reeder, but DON levels were very low in untreated Alsen. Ingot and Reeder yield improved 27 and 31% (17.6 and 18.4 bushels/A), respectively, with Folicur while Alsen yield improved 10% (5.5 bushels/A).