Dangers to the crop: powdery mildew, fusarium, and septoria attack the ears of cereal crops.

Signs of the most dangerous diseases of the ear inflorescence of spring grain crops.

Dusty head of wheat and barley manifests itself in the second year after infection. During wheat earing, all parts of the ears - awns and glumes - break down, turning into black dust. The remaining stem remains undamaged. The spread and development of the infection occur in humid and windy weather during flowering. The percentage of affected ears ranges from 0.3 to 0.5% during earing.

Fusarium head blight. The glumes of the ears are covered with pale pink, orange-red, or reddish cushions, which eventually merge to form a homogeneous coating. This coating often accumulates at the tip of the ear and can spread over its surface. Reddish cushions can sometimes form on the grain. When the grain ripens, fungi form mycelium and spores in the form of reddish cushions, which are found not only on the ear and grain but also on leaf sheaths, nodes, and sometimes at the base of the stems. The most favorable conditions for the spread and development of the infection occur under high humidity and air temperatures above +20°C. The percentage of affected plants during earing is 3.0-5.0%, and during milk ripeness - 10-20%.

Septoria ear blotch. The infection affects the glumes of the ears and other parts of the ear, starting from the top. Dark brown spots appear, which lighten over time, and spores actively develop on them. The disease can also affect the grain, which shows no obvious signs of infection but differs from healthy grain by its light weight and lack of oiliness. Conditions conducive to the spread and development of the infection: temperature around +20°C and constant rainfall. The disease develops in 10% of plants at the tillering and grain filling stages.

Olive mildew (ear smut) is a disease that affects wheat and other cereals during plant ripening. Weakened or aging plants develop an olive-black velvety sporulation on stems, ears, grains, and leaves. The spread and development of the infection occur under favorable conditions such as frequent rainfall and moderately warm weather during plant ripening. About 20.0% of plants are susceptible to the disease during earing and milk ripeness stages.

When the first signs of such diseases as Fusarium, Septoria ear blotch, and Olive mildew are detected and widely spread, it is recommended to treat with fungicides according to the list of recommended pesticides and agrochemicals for use in the Russian Federation in 2024.