What to protect crops from: pests and diseases of wheat, photo and description

Wheat sick for various reasons: unfavorable climate, illiterate care, lack of nutrients in the soil. To prevent the emergence of diseases, farmers take preventive measures - they treat plants with special solutions and apply fertilizers to the soil. The quality and quantity of the crop is also influenced by insect pests that feed on wheat juice and disrupt metabolism.

Consider in detail the description of wheat diseases with photos, as well as common insect pests.

Classification of diseases

There are more than 200 diseases that destroy cereal crops partially or completely. To cope with the disease, it is necessary to determine its characteristics and origin at an early stage of infection.

All diseases are divided into the following groups:

1. Mushroom occur due to the appearance of fungi in the fields, which quickly spread through the plants and live off the nutrients in the wheat. Fungal diseases include dusty, stem and dwarf smut, rust, powdery mildew.
2. Bacterial appear due to bacteria that can destroy the entire plant or its individual part. Bacterial diseases appear on the root system, in wheat vessels, or are of a mixed nature. They develop actively during periods of heat and high humidity. Common representatives are basal, black and mucous bacteriosis.
3. Viral appear at any stage of wheat growth. Viruses hibernate in plant debris, soil, and insects. They are transmitted through contact of healthy wheat with diseased wheat, through the wind and seeds. A common example of a viral disease is mosaic.
4. Diseases caused by insect pests... We are talking about oat and wheat nematodes. Nematoda is a round, small worm, the appearance of which entails a disruption in wheat nutrition and the occurrence of diseases.

The most common diseases

Cereals are as susceptible to disease as garden and houseplants. To quickly cure wheat, it is recommended to know the main diseases, their characteristics and methods of control.

Root rot

This fungal disease affects seedlings in the spring, and the root collar in summer and autumn. Brown spots and stripes of different lengths appear on the wheat without a border.

Favorable conditions for the development of root rot: dry summers, prolonged downpours, abrupt weather changes.

The infection is found in the ground, plant debris, weeds, and untreated seeds. Root rot often occurs early in wheat growth, resulting in a 60% decrease in yield.

Powdery mildew

White and light brown spots appear on wheat with a black dot inside. The fungus infects nearby plants in 3-5 days, soon the wheat withers and dries up.

Powdery mildew develops from the germination period to ripening, affects any varieties. The fungus quickly penetrates into wheat during periods of high humidity.

To avoid the appearance of powdery mildew, it is recommended to follow the rules of crop rotation and to make organic and mineral dressings on time. For treatment use the fungicide "Credo".

Rust

There are several types of rust. Yellow appears as small yellow-orange spots on leaves and stems. A favorable time for its development is cool spring and summer.

Stem, or linear, rust affects the plant completely, it becomes covered with brown ulcers, the stem cracks in different places, becomes soft and weak. The fungus is spread by wind and water. Able to destroy the entire crop.

Brown and leaf rust is found throughout Russia. On the upper side of the leaf, thousands of small volumetric brown spots appear.

Reference. To protect against any type of rust, it is recommended to choose resistant varieties for planting and follow agrotechnical rules.

Fusarium

Fusarium disease affects the roots, stem and ear. The scales show a light pink bloom and small dark spots. Grains become puny and wrinkled, lose their firmness and elasticity.

Infection occurs through plant debris or from neighboring crops such as corn. Fusarium actively develops during the flowering period, therefore farmers recommend carefully examining the plantings for symptoms of the disease. Get rid of fusarium with the help of "Kolosal".

Pyrenophorosis

Pyrenophorosis, or yellow spot, is characteristic of the southern regions. Small spots of yellow and beige color appear on the leaves and stem. In the center, they are light, with a chlorotic border. A week after the appearance of the spots merge into one large pattern, the leaves dry out. If it rains, a thin, light coating appears on the surface of the leaf plate.

The cause of grain crop contamination is plant debris. Treat yellow spot with the drug "Tertsia".

Ergot

Fungal disease appears as dark purple or black horns on wheat. The development of the fungus is facilitated by a long and rainy summer, an extended flowering period. Ergot is especially active in plants planted near the road.

The source of infection is a fungus on the surface of the seeds and in the soil. For prevention, it is recommended to harvest the crop in a timely manner and carry out early plowing of the field.

Septoriasis

Septoria is common in regions with high humidity and prolonged rainfall. Brown marks appear on the leaves, the scales of the spike are covered with bloom and dry out, the stems bend and turn black.

The fungus hibernates in grass and weeds. To prevent the appearance of septoria, regularly fertilize soil and comply with the timing of planting cereals.

Mob of ears

The mob of an ear is manifested in the height of summer. The ear becomes covered with black dots or dark bloom, it is easy to see signs of the disease with the naked eye.

The fungus is widespread everywhere, regardless of the region of cultivation.

For treatment, fungicides are used: "Rakurs", "Talent", "Spirit". For preventive purposes, the crop is harvested on time and in a short time.

Pitious Root Rot

Fungal disease develops during low temperatures and rainy weather. Pitious root rot is dangerous for wheat at an early stage of growth and development. Brown stripes and ulcers appear on the root system, root hairs disappear. Seedlings grow crooked or do not appear at all, wheat stunted in growth.

Reasons for infection: lack of nutrients in the soil, cold and long winter, contaminated seed.

Attention! Root rot actively develops if wheat is sown in acidic soil with a low content of phosphorus and organic matter. Cement dust and hydrated lime help to reduce the acidity of the soil. Before planting, the land is fertilized with phosphorus-containing fertilizers: "Superphosphate", "Ammophos", phosphorite or bone meal.

Wheat pests

Insect pests of crops can destroy the entire crop. Insect larvae hibernate in the soil, and with the onset of heat they appear on the ground.

Wireworm

The wireworm is found in heavy and clayey soils.It got its name for its external resemblance to yellow and thick wire. Larvae and adults feed not only on humus, but also on underground parts of wheat, due to which the metabolism in the plant is disrupted, and it slowly dies. Adult wireworms lay their eggs in moist soil.

For the prevention of the appearance of the pest, the soil is limed, ammonia fertilizers are applied, and they are fed with Bazudin. The soil is dug up, the wireworms are collected by hand and burned.

Piavitsa

Flying beetles 5 mm long are ubiquitous. They appear in April, eat out narrow holes on the leaves and suck out the juice. Wheat stops growing and dries up, it is impossible to restore the harvest. Adults and larvae harm the culture.

Piavitsa spreads quickly in warm and humid spring conditions. For prevention, they grow resistant varieties and timely destroy cereal weeds - wormwood, mouse peas, chicken millet.

Hessian fly

The pest hibernates in the stalks of wheat and weeds, and flies out in late April or early May.

Fly-infested wheat has a yellow stem and dries up. To prevent the appearance of the Hessian fly, the seeds are pickled and planted in prepared loose soil. Get rid of the insect with the help of the drug "Cruiser" or "Eforia".

Wheat thrips

Black bugs 2 mm long infect spring wheat. They hibernate in fields, in spring they develop on ears for 10-14 days. They damage the leaves and suck out the juice, as a result of which light spots appear on the plates, the ears are deformed, become fluffy and loose. The grain becomes smaller, black dots appear in the places of thrips bites.

Wheat thrips reproduce quickly in dry and warm summers. Get rid of them with the help of the drug "Bazudin".

Bread beetle

Beetles 2 cm long harm winter wheat varieties. They gnaw the leaves and the damaged plants dry out. Often the ground beetle appears in areas where the wheat planting site has not been changed for more than three years. Insects eat away grains and gnaw off scales. For prevention, the timing of sowing and harvesting is observed.

Diseases and pests affecting winter and spring wheat

Winter wheat ripens 3 times longer than spring wheat. Winter yield depends on the application of mineral fertilizers and the nutrient composition of the soil. Its root system is more sensitive, therefore winter varieties are more often subjected to root rot, rust and fusarium. In areas with winter varieties, wireworms are often found, they feed on roots and suck out nutrients.

The spring wheat has a strong root system, however, such wheat is more sensitive to sudden changes in weather. As a result, fungi and bacteria develop, plantings fall ill with black, septoria, powdery mildew. Thrips, Hessian flies and ground beetles appear on the beds.

Control methods

For effective control of diseases and insect pests, professional preparations are used.

Farmers recommend:

1. Fungicides "Zantara", "Prozaro", "Soligor", "Falcon", "Input". The preparations strengthen the immunity of wheat, treat fungal and viral diseases.
2. Insecticides "Decis Expert", "Confidor Extra", "Proteus" protect from pests and prevent the appearance of rodents in the fields with wheat.
3. Herbicides "Ballerina", "Gorgon", "Deimos", "Demeter" help to preserve nutrients in the soil, protect against weeds.

Preventive measures

For preventive purposes, disease-resistant wheat varieties are chosen for planting: Prestige, Rodnik Tarasovsky, Governor of Don, Galina. Farmers observe the terms of planting winter and spring varieties, disinfect seeds and soil, adhere to the following rules:

• black earth or chestnut lands are chosen for planting;
• before planting, the soil is peeled;
• wheat is planted after legumes and row crops;
• fertilize the soil with nitrogen;
• weeds are regularly removed.

Read also:

Maximum benefit in one glass: we prepare and drink wheatgrass juice correctly.

Description and characteristics of the winter wheat variety "Bagrat".

Review of the winter wheat variety "Yuka".

Conclusion

To protect wheat from diseases and insects, it is advisable to know their signs and symptoms. For example, powdery mildew is recognized by a white bloom, a wireworm infestation by damaged roots. Most of the larvae and fungi live in the soil, waiting out the autumn and winter time in it.

Viral, fungal and bacterial diseases actively develop in heat and rain, insects appear when agrotechnical rules are not followed. Fungicides and insecticides help to get rid of them.