Updated spore counts are available for central Oregon, the Lower Columbia Basin, and the Grande Ronde Valley of Oregon:
Category Archives: Ergot Alerts
Ergot Alert for the Lower Columbia Basin, May 27, 2020
Honeydew has been observed in non-treated, artificially-infested plots at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
In contrast to airborne ascospores, honeydew is contact-, splash- or insect-dispersed.
The presence of honeydew at harvest can make swathing and combining more difficult. Late season scouting and field monitoring will help to develop harvesting/seed cleaning schedules and identify potential problem fields or areas that will need increased monitoring in the 2021 season.
The easiest way to scout for honeydew is to gently brush the flowers and developing seeds with your hand as you walk the field – if you feel a sticky substance, it may be honeydew from ergot. Aphids, if present, can also produce a sticky substance called honeydew, so, be careful not to confuse ergot honeydew with honeydew secreted by these insect pests.
Ergot Alert for the Lower Columbia Basin, May 22, 2020
Updated spore counts are now available for the lower Columbia Basin of Washington. Compared to other locations we are seeing low, but steady counts in the area:
Ergot Alert for the Grande Ronde Valley, May 19, 2020
Updated spore counts are available for the Grande Ronde Valley. Large numbers of spores were intermittently detected at the site:
- 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).
This research is funded by the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission, the Oregon Seed Council, the Eastern Oregon Kentucky Bluegrass Working Group, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture Alternatives for Field Burning Research Financial Assistance Program.
Ergot Alert for Central Oregon, May 14, 2020
Updated spore counts are available for the central Oregon area:
Ergot Alert for the Grande Ronde Valley, May 14, 2020
Spore traps have detected the presence of airborne ergot ascospores around Kentucky bluegrass production areas in the Grande Ronde Valley.
Spore counts are relatively low and sporadic compared to other sites. However, a relatively few number of ascospores can begin an infection, and the honeydew (secondary) stage of the disease can amplify the disease in a field before harvest. Our research has shown that, at least in some cases, up to 30% of infections can be caused by honeydew.
It is also important to note that the spore traps currently being used at all sites sample a relatively small volume of air (about 3,800 gallons of air/day). Consequently, the ascospores that are detected and reported likely represent a small proportion of the total number in the area.
Ergot Alert for the Lower Columbia Basin, May 13, 2020
Spore trap results confirmed the presence of airborne ergot ascospores in the Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon (top) and Washington (bottom):
The spore counts presented above are intended to show daily trends in spore production in their respective areas and do not necessarily indicate inoculum pressure in your field(s). Spore production can vary from field to field, and inoculum pressure tends to be higher in older fields with a history of ergot in the previous season, or in new fields planted next to established fields with a history of ergot.
Ergot Alert for the Lower Columbia Basin, May 11, 2020
A predictive model for ergot ascospores was developed for the Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon that uses accumulated degree-days (beginning January 1, with a base temperature of 50°F and upper threshold temperature of 77°F) to forecast when ascospores are likely to be present.
Accumulated degree-days as of May 10 were 435 in Hermiston, OR (orange line). According to the model, most ascospores are produced in the Lower Columbia Basin when accumulated degree-days are between 414 and 727.
At this time in 2019, accumulated degree-days were 365 (dotted line).
Ergot Alert for Central Oregon, May 11, 2020
Spore trap results confirmed the presence of airborne ascospores in sentinal plots located at COAREC. A large number of spores were captured on the first day of trapping.
The cool, wet weather that is predicted for central Oregon over the next few days will likely be conducive to sclerotia germination and spore release. In general, ascospore production by the pathogen is favored by:
- moderate temperatures (between 50°F and 80°F)
- high soil moisture, rainfall, and/or irrigation.
- conditions that delay or interfere with pollination, such as cool wet weather, can increase the period of susceptibility in grass seed crops.
It is recommended that growers scout fields as grass seed crops approach flowering (anthesis). Protective fungicides should be applied prior to the onset of anthesis to protect unfertilized flowers from infection, and 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).
Ergot Alert for the Lower Columbia Basin, May 8, 2020
Germinating sclerotia were observed at several research sites in the Hermiston, OR area today. Grass seed growers and crop consultants can assume that ergot spores are currently present in the area.
Perennial ryegrass varieties are not yet flowering and susceptible to ergot, but earlier-flowering cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass may be ready for a fungicide application if ergot is a concern in your area.
For maximum ergot control, fungicide applications should be timed to occur at the beginning of or immediately prior to flowering. Cultivars with long flowering periods may require (an) additional application(s).
More information on fungicide options for ergot in the Pacific Northwest can be found in the Pacific Northwest Disease Management Handbook: https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-ergot .
Acknowledgement: This research is funded by the Eastern Oregon Kentucky Bluegrass Working Group, the Jefferson County Seed Growers Association, the Oregon Department of Agriculture Alternatives for Field Burning Research Financial Assistance Program, the Oregon Seed Council, the Union County Seed Growers Association, and the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission.