Spread of Wheat Curl Mite and Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus is Influenced by Volunteer Wheat Control Methods

Abstract

Wheat streak mosaic virus is the most damaging disease in winter wheat in the western Great Plains. The wheat curl mite is the vector of this virus and utilizes volunteer wheat as a “green bridge” to over-summer and re-infest fall planted winter wheat. This study demonstrates the effect of tillage and glyphosate control of volunteer wheat on mite movement and subsequent virus infection. Small mite populations (1 to 2 mites per tiller) caused high infection rates in winter wheat. Both tillage and glyphosate were effective at reducing mite populations on volunteer wheat, but tillage resulted in more rapid reduction of mite populations. If volunteer wheat is to be controlled close to planting time, tillage is the best choice for rapid control of mite populations when warm dry weather conditions exist. Accepted for publication 21 October 2004. Published 6 December 2004.