Updated spore counts for Central Oregon are shown below:
Weather conditions in Central Oregon are expected to be favorable for spore production over the next week, and some earlier flowering Kentucky bluegrass cultivars are nearing anthesis in the area. Protective fungicides should be applied prior to onset of flowering and throughout anthesis to protect unfertilized ovaries from infection. Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require more than one application.
Spore trapping for the 2022 Ergot Alert Network was started May 5-6. We currently have rotating arm samplers located at the following spore monitoring locations:
Depending on your region, some Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass cultivars may be nearing anthesis. Protective fungicides should be applied immediately prior to onset of anthesis and throughout the flowering period to protect unfertilized ovaries from infection. Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require more than one application.
The PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook is a great resource for more information on fungicide options for ergot (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-ergot) and other diseases of grass grown for seed.
For more information, please contact Jeremiah Dung.
This work is funded by the Eastern Oregon Kentucky Bluegrass Working Group and the Oregon Seed Council.
Lower Columbia Basin: Burkard spore trap in artificially-infested perennial ryegrass fungicide test plots at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Spore production is continuing at this site. On May 26, over 27,000 spores were detected:
Upper Columbia Basin: Burkard spore trap and rotating arm sampler in a Kentucky bluegrass seed field near Paterson, WA (naturally occurring inoculum). Spore production is continuing at this site:
Central Oregon: Burkard spore trap in Kentucky bluegrass plant growth regulator test plots at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center (naturally occurring inoculum). Spore production is continuing at this site:
Union County: Rotating arm samplers placed in two Kentucky bluegrass seed fields with moderate and high histories of ergot (naturally occurring inoculum). Over 2,700 spores were detected during the week of May 19-May 26 at Field #1. Spores have not been detected at Field #2.
Many fields are in full flower (anthesis). Protective fungicides should be applied immediately prior to onset of anthesis and throughout the flowering period to protect unfertilized ovaries from infection. Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require more than one application.
Please refer to the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook for more information on fungicide options for ergot (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-ergot), or contact Jeremiah Dung if you have any questions.
This work is funded by the Eastern Oregon Kentucky Bluegrass Working Group, the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission, the Oregon Seed Council, and the Agricultural Research Foundation.
Lower Columbia Basin: Burkard spore trap in artificially-infested perennial ryegrass fungicide test plots at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Spore production continues to increase at this site:
Central Oregon: Burkard spore trap in Kentucky bluegrass plant growth regulator test plots at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center (naturally occurring inoculum). Spores are still being detected this site:
Many fields are in full flower (anthesis). Protective fungicides should be applied immediately prior to onset of anthesis and throughout the flowering period to protect unfertilized ovaries from infection. Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require more than one application.
Please refer to the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook for more information on fungicide options for ergot (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-ergot), or contact Jeremiah Dung if you have any questions.
This work is funded by the Eastern Oregon Kentucky Bluegrass Working Group, the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission, the Oregon Seed Council, and the Agricultural Research Foundation.
Upper Columbia Basin: Burkard spore trap and rotating arm sampler in a Kentucky bluegrass seed field near Paterson, WA (naturally occurring inoculum). Spore production is increasing at this site:
Central Oregon: Burkard spore trap in Kentucky bluegrass plant growth regulator test plots at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center (naturally occurring inoculum). Spores have been detected at this site:
Union County: Rotating arm samplers placed in two Kentucky bluegrass seed fields with moderate and high histories of ergot (naturally occurring inoculum). As of May 19, spores have not been detected at these sites.
Many fields are in full flower (anthesis). Protective fungicides should be applied immediately prior to onset of anthesis and throughout the flowering period to protect unfertilized ovaries from infection. Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require more than one application.
Please refer to the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook for more information on fungicide options for ergot (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-ergot), or contact Jeremiah Dung if you have any questions.
This work is funded by the Eastern Oregon Kentucky Bluegrass Working Group, the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission, the Oregon Seed Council, and the Agricultural Research Foundation.
Lower Columbia Basin: Burkard spore trap in artificially-infested perennial ryegrass fungicide test plots at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Spore production is increasing at this site:
Upper Columbia Basin: Burkard spore trap and rotating arm sampler in a Kentucky bluegrass seed field near Paterson, WA (naturally occurring inoculum). Spores have been detected at this site:
Central Oregon: Burkard spore trap in Kentucky bluegrass plant growth regulator test plots at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center (naturally occurring inoculum). Spores have been detected at this site:
Union County: Rotating arm samplers placed in two Kentucky bluegrass seed fields with moderate and high histories of ergot (naturally occurring inoculum). As of May 13, spores have not been detected at these sites.
Many fields are in full flower (anthesis). Protective fungicides should be applied immediately prior to onset of anthesis and throughout the flowering period to protect unfertilized ovaries from infection. Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require more than one application.
Please refer to the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook for more information on fungicide options for ergot (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-ergot), or contact Jeremiah Dung if you have any questions.
This work is funded by the Eastern Oregon Kentucky Bluegrass Working Group, the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission, the Oregon Seed Council, and the Agricultural Research Foundation.
Spore trapping for the 2021 Ergot Alert Network was started on April 29 at most locations. This season, we have the following spore traps in place:
Many fields are nearing anthesis. Protective fungicides should be applied immediately prior to onset of anthesis and throughout the flowering period to protect unfertilized ovaries from infection. Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require more than one application.
Please refer to the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook for more information on fungicide options for ergot (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-ergot), or contact Jeremiah Dung if you have any questions.
This work is funded by the Eastern Oregon Kentucky Bluegrass Working Group, the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission, the Oregon Seed Council, and the Agricultural Research Foundation.
Updated spore counts are available for central Oregon, the Lower Columbia Basin (OR), and the Grande Ronde Valley:
Updated spore counts are available for central Oregon:
Updated spore counts are available for the Lower Columbia Basin (OR and WA) and the Grande Ronde Valley. Spore production was observed at all three locations:
