Two greenhouses within the state have recently had to dispose of large number of plants including impatiens, begonia, digitalis, and balsam because of the thrips transmitted virus. The disease which has been relatively absent for about ten years, recently was reported in three separate counties. Two separate reports were made since the 1980's when the disease was a significant concern to Kansas wheat production. Symptoms include a yellow streak down the midrib of the leaf and browning of vascular tissue in and around the nodes. The disease does have some phytosanitary issues surrounding it but likely will not be of any significance.
Wheat disease continues to rumble across the state.
Foliar diseases are on the increase but perhaps the biggest discovery has been levels of virus infected fields. In contrast to barley yellow dwarf, wheat streak mosaic is primarily a disease of the western half of Kansas. Here again virus levels have been found to comparatively high. Survey and weather conditions from last fall indicated that this may be the case. A warm windy November allowed additional infection periods resulting in today's symptoms.