Evaluation of Pacific Northwest Spring Wheat Cultivars for Response to Stripe Rust and Fungicide Application in Pullman, WA, 2024

Stripe rust is a damaging disease of spring wheat and can be effectively managed by planting resistant cultivars and/or applying fungicides. This study was conducted in a field near Pullman, WA, with natural infection of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in 2024 to determine yield losses by stripe rust and yield protection by two applications of fungicide Quilt Xcel on 23 commercially grown wheat cultivars, plus a susceptible check (AvS). The fungicide applications significantly reduced stripe rust in AvS and 11 commercial cultivars, increased the grain test weight of AvS and two cultivars, and increased the grain yield in AvS and one cultivar when compared with their nontreated plots, whereas the fungicide applications did not significantly increase the yields for the remaining 22 cultivars, indicating adequate resistance. These results are useful in the integrated management of stripe rust on spring wheat.