Fusarium Head Blight is expected to be a problem for producers where environmental conditions were right.
In a webinar with the Alberta Wheat Commission, Dr. Kelly Turkington, a Research Scientist - Plant Pathologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said anthesis is the key stage for infection.
"Typically that's when you start seeing the yellow anthers being extruded in the middle part of the head. So, that's the key time for application of fungicide."
He notes the key time to spray fungicides is actually at the start of anthesis, before you see symptons.
"The pathogen itself, as I said, can colonize the exposed anthers and grow on that tissue into the interior of the floret, where it's much easier for the pathogen to colonize tissue and infect that developing seed."
Alberta producers can look at the Fusarium Head Blight Risk Management Tool on the government's website here.
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