Should a Fungicide Be Applied For Stripe Rust Under Dry Conditions?

Stripe rust continues to be found in several winter wheat fields mainly in areas that have had rainfall in recent days.

Some of these fields have severe stripe rust developing (Figure 1). However, since it has been dry with warm temperatures growers are wondering if a fungicide is still necessary.

Strip Rust Development: Weather Impact

Stripe rust development, like any other fungal disease, is driven by weather. The favorable weather conditions for stripe rust are cooler temperatures (<65°F) and wet weather (leaf wetness/dew for at least 8 hours). These are the conditions we experienced in the past weeks that have led to high inoculum for this rust.