Ergot ascospores have already been detected in the Columbia Basin at spore trap sites KBG5 (a commercial Kentucky bluegrass field west of Eltopia, WA), PRG1 (an artificially-infested perennial ryegrass field at the OSU Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center), and PRG2 (a commercial perennial ryegrass field near Hermiston).

It is recommended that growers scout fields as grass seed crops approach anthesis.

Protective fungicides should be applied prior to the onset of anthesis to protect unfertilized flowers from infection.

Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require multiple applications.

Please refer to the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook for more information (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-ergot).