This disease is known as blue dwarf virus in barley and oats, and crinkle in flax. Each year infective leafhoppers must come in from the United States. Severe outbreaks occur following weather that brings favorable winds which move virus-infected leafhoppers into the prairie provinces early in the spring. Early spring infection results in severe stunting.
Plants are dark blue-green with short rigid leaves that stand out at right angles.
Heads are usually blasted and infected plants may produce new tillers. Barley Symptoms are generally similar to oats except that barley plants do not produce new tillers. Flax This disease is called crinkle in flax. It results in stunting and reduced tillering. Diagnosis Reduced tillering and blasted heads result in yield loss.