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Eye Spot

Overview

Eye spot, caused by the fungus Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, is a significant disease affecting cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and rye in the U.S. and Canada. The disease is characterized by elliptical, eye-shaped lesions with a dark center and yellow halo on the lower stems and leaf sheaths. These lesions weaken the plant structure, leading to lodging, which complicates harvesting and reduces grain quality and yield.

Eye spot thrives in cool, wet conditions, making it particularly problematic in regions with such climates, like the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Midwest. The disease can cause yield losses of up to 50% in severe cases. Management strategies include crop rotation, resistant varieties, and timely fungicide applications. Products like Fortuna™ 75 WDG Fungicide and Willowood Teb 3.6SC, available from FBN, can help control eye spot when used as part of an integrated disease management plan.

How to Identify Eye Spot

Farmers can identify eye spot by observing several specific symptoms and signs on their cereal crops. Here’s a detailed guide:

  1. Lesions on Lower Stems and Leaf Sheaths:

    • Appearance: Look for elliptical, eye-shaped lesions with a dark center and a yellow halo. These lesions are typically found on the lower stems and leaf sheaths of the plant.

    • Size and Shape: The lesions are usually small and elongated, resembling an eye, which is a distinctive feature of this disease.

  2. Plant Structure:

    • Weakening of Stems: The lesions weaken the plant structure, making the stems more prone to lodging (falling over). This can complicate harvesting and reduce grain quality.

  3. Environmental Conditions:

    • Cool, Wet Conditions: Eye spot thrives in cool, wet conditions. Farmers should be particularly vigilant in regions with such climates, like the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Midwest.

  4. Field Patterns:

    • Patchy Distribution: The disease often appears in patches within a field, rather than uniformly. These patches may correspond to areas with higher moisture levels.

For managing eye spot, farmers can use fungicides such as Trivapro® Fungicide and Willowood Teb 3.6SC, both available from FBN. These products can help control the disease when used as part of an integrated disease management plan.

Geographic Impact of Eye Spot

Eye spot, caused by the fungus Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, has a significant geographic impact on cereal crops in various regions of the United States and Canada. Here’s a detailed look at its geographic impact:

United States:

  1. Pacific Northwest:

    • States Affected: Washington, Oregon, Idaho.

    • Crops: Wheat, barley, and rye are major crops in this region. The cool, wet conditions typical of the Pacific Northwest are ideal for the development of eye spot.

    • Impact: The disease can cause significant yield losses and lodging, complicating harvest and reducing grain quality.

  2. Midwest:

    • States Affected: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan.

    • Crops: Wheat and barley are commonly affected. The region's variable weather patterns, including cool and wet springs, can promote the development of eye spot.

    • Impact: Eye spot can lead to weakened stems and lodging, resulting in yield losses and increased difficulty during harvest.

  3. Northeast:

    • States Affected: New York, Pennsylvania.

    • Crops: Wheat and barley are susceptible. The cool, moist climate of the Northeast can favor the disease.

    • Impact: Similar to other regions, eye spot can cause lodging and reduce grain quality and yield.

Canada:

  1. Prairie Provinces:

    • Provinces Affected: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba.

    • Crops: Wheat, barley, and rye are major crops. The disease can be problematic in areas with cool, wet conditions, particularly in the spring.

    • Impact: Eye spot can lead to significant yield losses and lodging, affecting the overall productivity of cereal crops.

  2. Eastern Canada:

    • Provinces Affected: Ontario, Quebec.

    • Crops: Wheat and barley are commonly affected. The humid and cool climate of Eastern Canada can promote the development of eye spot.

    • Impact: The disease can cause lodging and reduce grain quality, leading to economic losses for farmers.

Timing of Eye Spot Impact

Eye spot, caused by Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, emerges and impacts fields at specific times of the growing season, influenced by environmental conditions and crop growth stages. Here’s a detailed timeline of when eye spot is most likely to emerge and affect fields across the United States:

Emergence and Initial Infection:

Early Spring (Planting to Early Growth):

  1. Conditions: Eye spot fungi thrive in cool, wet conditions. Early spring, with its frequent rains and moderate temperatures, provides an ideal environment for the initial infection.

  2. Infection Timing: The fungi infect the seedlings and young plants during the early growth stages, particularly from planting through tillering in cereals like wheat, barley, and rye.

Disease Development:

Late Spring to Early Summer (Vegetative to Early Reproductive Stages):

  1. Conditions: As temperatures remain cool and moisture levels stay high, the disease begins to develop more aggressively. The fungi continue to infect and spread within the plant tissues.

  2. Symptoms: Initial symptoms such as elliptical, eye-shaped lesions with a dark center and yellow halo on the lower stems and leaf sheaths become more noticeable during this period.

Peak Impact:

Mid to Late Summer (Reproductive to Maturity Stages):

  1. Conditions: The disease reaches its peak impact during the reproductive stages of the crop, including heading and grain filling in cereals.

  2. Symptoms: Severe symptoms such as weakened stems and lodging are most evident. The lesions can cause significant structural damage, leading to lodging, which complicates harvesting and reduces grain quality and yield.

  3. Yield Impact: This is the critical period when eye spot can cause substantial yield losses, as the disease interferes with the plant's structural integrity during the crucial grain-filling stage.

Geographic Variations:

  • Northern Regions: In cooler northern regions, such as the Pacific Northwest and the Prairie Provinces of Canada, the disease may emerge slightly later in the season due to cooler spring temperatures.

  • Southern Regions: In warmer southern regions, the disease can emerge earlier and progress more rapidly due to higher temperatures and earlier planting dates.

Management Timing:

  • Early Detection: Monitoring fields for early symptoms in the spring is crucial for timely intervention.

  • Fungicide Application: If fungicides are part of the management strategy, they should be applied during the early growth stages to protect young plants from initial infection.

By understanding the timing of eye spot emergence and its impact throughout the growing season, farmers can implement timely and effective management practices to mitigate the disease's effects and protect their crop yields.

How to Manage Eye Spot

Farmers can manage eye spot in various crops through an integrated approach that includes cultural practices, crop rotation, resistant varieties, and the use of fungicides. Here are some specific strategies and examples of chemical products available for purchase from FBN:

Cultural Practices:

  1. Crop Rotation: Rotate crops with non-host species to reduce the buildup of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides in the soil.

  2. Residue Management: Remove or deeply incorporate crop residues to minimize the source of inoculum.

  3. Proper Irrigation: Avoid over-irrigation and ensure good drainage to reduce soil moisture levels that favor fungal growth.

Resistant Varieties:

  • Plant Resistant Varieties: Use crop varieties that are resistant or tolerant to eye spot to reduce disease incidence and severity.

Fungicide Applications:

  1. Fortuna™ 75 WDG Fungicide:

    • Active Ingredient: Mancozeb

    • Crops: Labeled for use on wheat, barley, and rye.

    • Usage: Apply Fortuna™ 75 WDG Fungicide to protect crops from eye spot. It is effective in preventing the disease when used as part of a comprehensive management plan.

  2. Willowood Teb 3.6SC:

    • Active Ingredient: Tebuconazole

    • Crops: Labeled for use on wheat, barley, and rye.

    • Usage: Willowood Teb 3.6SC can be used to manage eye spot by applying it during the early growth stages to protect young plants from initial infection.

Timing and Application:

  • Early Detection: Monitor fields regularly for early symptoms of eye spot and apply fungicides at the first sign of disease.

  • Application Timing: Fungicides should be applied during the early growth stages, particularly from planting through tillering in cereals, to protect the plants from initial infection.

By combining these strategies, farmers can effectively manage eye spot and minimize its impact on crop yields.

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Every product that labels EYE SPOT as a weed, pest, or disease the product can be applied against is shown below. Click any product for label and more information.
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