Extension specialists from the cereal commissions in the Prairies have created a new fact sheet on bacterial leaf streak and black chaff, two related diseases (both caused by the same pathogen) that are becoming more prevalent across the Prairies.

Symptoms of bacterial leaf streak can be similar to fungal leaf spot diseases while black chaff appears as dark lines on plumes and awns. Both can cause substantial yield losses.

The three-page fact sheet details the life cycle, what to look for when scouting, and management options. (The best control method is to buy clean seed, as infected seed is the main cause of its spread.)

The fact sheet can be found at the ‘Producer Resources’ page at saskwheat.ca.