- Grain blackfly most often attacks winter wheat and spring barley, although it can be found in all cereals.
- Its occurrence is most often associated with a delay in the harvest caused by long-term rainfall, although, as it turns out, in practice, downpours without delay are also sufficient to infect wheat.
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Most grain on world stock exchanges fell in price last week
Black ears of wheat
The factor contributing to the infection of cereals by pathogenic fungi of the Cladosporium and Alternaria species are the above-mentioned heavy rains that delay the harvest after a period of drought that occurs at the earing stage. The situation was much more typical last year, when the harvest delay was clearly visible, as many farmers started harvesting rapeseed only in August. Currently, although there is no such thing as a delay, a long period without precipitation and then continued rains for several days were enough to turn black the ears of wheat.
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What grain prices are forecast? Thorough analysis
A characteristic symptom, often visible from a distance, are black ears, most often occurring in winter wheat. The mycelium covering them closely resembles soot, and in addition to the ears, to a lesser extent, it often also covers the blades and leaves of cereals. Interestingly, although the disease is called blackness, depending on the species attacking a given plantation, the mycelium may be not only black, but also gray or green. Infection by wheat blackworm is caused by previous weakening of the plants by other diseases, most often fusarium blight.
Harm of black cereals
Due to the disease occurring just before the cereal harvest, it does not negatively affect the yield. However, as fully developed kernels are overgrown with mycelium, the quality of the collected material deteriorates. Organoleptically, this allows us to confirm the non-specific appearance and smell of the grain.
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What parameters should consumption wheat have?
At the same time, the harmfulness of black cereals is usually not high. The disease most often occurs locally in a mild manner, so even if infected grains are removed, losses rarely exceed 5%. In addition to the above-mentioned appearance and smell, an increased risk of mycelium overgrowing grain stored in storage may also be a problem. However, at this stage it is too late to treat with fungicide.
