Black chaff on wheat has not been a big problem in recent years, however samples have begun to come in this season, about a month earlier than normal. The southwest portion of the state is seeing quite a bit of black chaff, despite the fact that this usually is not a black chaff area. Elevated levels also are being seen on barley, where the correct name is now considered to be bacterial blight of barley. In early season, necrotic spots were noted on seedlings that had high levels of fluorescent pseudomonads. In the past, have isolated Pseudomonas syringae pv.
Lesions look like spot blotch with chlorosis.
The disease does not seem to develop past the early tillering stage. This could be related to elevated temperatures in 1997. Mixed infections of wheat streak mosaic and high plains virus were found in sweet corn. Eyespot - Received a sample from southern Idaho with the most severe symptoms yet seen from that area. Flag smut - was severe in two fields in southern Idaho where the disease apparently was present the previous year.