Fighting Leaf Stripe Seeding date and variety selection are critical tools in reducing the risk of yield loss from a fungus that is characterized by long yellow stripes on wheat leaves. It is the only true vascular fungal pathogen of wheat, attacking the water and nutrient transporting system of the plant. It causes a premature death of tillers, stunts the plant and shrivels the kernels. Ceph leaf stripe is more common in wetter field areas and in more acid soils. Recent research now indicates that the fungus can invade a root without the injury.
Wheat is the major economic host, but it can also affect barley, oats, rye and triticale.
None of our current varieties are immune, but some have better resistance or tolerance than others. There is no chemical treatment for leaf stripe. Cultural management is the key to control. Field history is a good indicator of the risk of future incidence of leaf stripe. If you have it bad this year, you can expect a high level of risk in the next crop because the amount of inoculum is going to be high.