COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic will offer free screening for five wheat viruses this spring.

A partnership of MU Extension’s Integrated Pest Management and Field Crop Pathology programs allows the clinic to waive the usual fee of $65 per sample.

“Now is that time of the year to get your wheat tested for viruses,” says Peng Tian, director of the Plant Diagnostic Clinic. “With this service, we hope to collect both wheat variety and location data of current incidences of wheat virus in Missouri to better understand the disease severity and help growers better prepare for controlling detected diseases in the next season.”

In the past, MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic has diagnosed multiple viruses from Missouri wheat samples. The 2023 test will check for wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV), soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV), barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV).

Tian suggests that wheat growers include GPS location data and variety information for each sample when collecting samples in the field. “It is important to follow the guidelines to ensure sample quality,” he says.

Find guidelines for collecting and submitting wheat samples at ipm.missouri.edu/cropPest/2022/4/wheatVirus-PT.

For more information on sample submission, visit plantclinic.missouri.edu.

Photo

https://extension.missouri.edu/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2023/20230308-wheat-1.jpg
This wheat sample shows symptoms of wheat spindle streak mosaic virus. Yellow lesions run parallel to the leaf veins, leaving spindle-shaped markings on some leaves. Photo by Peng Tian.