Oats have a high feed value, they are useful in crop rotations, and they are marketable to the breakfast food industry. Oats are susceptible to a large number of diseases that may damage or totally destroy individual fields. Oat diseases can cause severe economic losses because of their effects on yield and quality of grain and forage. The purpose of this publication is to discuss the symptoms and control of oat diseases commonly found in Alabama.
Crown rust is one of the most destructive of all oat diseases.
Crown rust infection results in reduced yields, lower test weights, and increased lodging. Crown rust appears as small, scattered, oval, orange-yellow pustules or masses of spores on the leaves. Most of the pustules are found on the leaf blades, but some occur on leaf sheaths, stems, and chaff. The spores turn black as the plant matures. The crown rust fungus life cycle is complex, involving several spore stages with buckthorn bushes serving as the alternate host.