The disease tends to occur sporadically on wheat in central and northern Missouri. This is one of the years that Cephalosporium is making an appearance. Foliage symptoms are most evident during jointing and heading. Light green to yellow-green, longitudinal stripes develop on the leaves of infected plants. The stripes run parallel to the leaf midrib and may extend the entire length of the leaf.
Older lesions are predominantly yellow or even brown.
Infected plants may be stunted with some lower leaves dying prematurely. The fungus which causes this disease, Cephalosporium gramineum, persists in association with wheat residues and may also be soilborne. The disease is favored by wet soils, fluctuating winter temperatures and frequent cropping of wheat or other susceptible grasses in the same field. Fungicides are not effective in controlling Cephalosporium stripe and resistant varieties are not available for Missouri. Management of this disease is through crop rotation to corn or legumes for at least 2 years, residue management, proper fertility and weed control.