Wheat diseases facts for kids

Wheat, a very important cereal grain used to make bread, pasta, and many other foods, can get sick just like people! These sicknesses are called wheat diseases. They can be caused by tiny living things like bacteria, viruses, and fungi, or even by small parasites. When wheat plants get sick, it can mean less food for everyone.

What Are Wheat Diseases?

Wheat diseases are problems that stop wheat plants from growing strong and healthy. They can damage different parts of the plant, like the leaves, stems, roots, or even the grains themselves. When wheat plants are sick, they might not grow as tall, produce as much grain, or the grain might not be as good quality. This can be a big problem for farmers and for the world's food supply.

Common Wheat Diseases You Might Hear About

There are many different types of diseases that can affect wheat. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV): This virus makes wheat leaves turn yellow or red.
• Brown rust: This fungal disease causes rusty-looking spots on the leaves.
• Common bunt: Also known as Covered smut, this fungus turns the wheat grains into black, powdery balls.
• Ergot: This fungus grows on the wheat head and forms dark, hard structures that can be harmful if eaten.
• Eyespot: This disease creates eye-shaped spots on the lower part of the wheat stem.
• Glume blotch: This fungus causes brown or purple spots on the wheat heads and leaves.
• Septoria leaf blotch: This disease makes brown spots appear on the leaves, which can spread and kill the leaf.
• Mildew: This fungus creates white, powdery patches on the leaves and stems.
• Seedling blight: This disease attacks young wheat plants, making them weak or killing them before they grow big.
• Sharp eyespot: Similar to eyespot, but the spots are more defined and can be found higher on the stem.
• Spot blotch: This fungus causes dark spots on leaves and can affect the whole plant.
• Take-all: This root disease makes wheat plants turn white and die early.
• Tan spot: This fungus creates tan-colored spots with dark centers on the leaves.
• Yellow rust: This fungal disease causes yellow stripes on the leaves, making them look like they have rust.

How Farmers Manage Wheat Diseases

Farmers work hard to protect their wheat crops from diseases. Over the years, they have learned many ways to keep plants healthy.

Controlling Diseases in Europe

In Europe, farmers have been growing a lot of wheat since the 1970s. This means they need to be very careful about diseases. Luckily, new ways to fight diseases have been found.

• Better Wheat Varieties: Scientists have developed new types of wheat plants that are naturally stronger and more resistant to diseases. This is like breeding a dog that is less likely to get certain health problems.
• Fungicides: Farmers can use special chemicals called fungicides. These chemicals help to kill or stop the growth of harmful fungi that cause many wheat diseases.
• Crop Rotation: Farmers often plant different crops in the same field each year. This is called crop rotation. For example, they might plant wheat one year, then beans the next. This helps to break the life cycle of diseases that might stay in the soil.
• Straw Management: In the past, some farmers burned the leftover straw after harvesting. Now, they often leave it or mix it into the soil. This change means farmers need to be even better at controlling diseases.

Controlling Diseases in the USA

In the United States, wheat can get more diseases than other grains. Especially when it's very wet, wheat crops can suffer a lot from these sicknesses. Wheat plants can face problems from:

• Root Pests: Tiny insects can attack the roots, making the plant weak.
• Leaf and Stem Blight: Diseases can affect the leaves or stems, stopping the plant from getting enough food to grow its grains.
• Mildew on the Ear: The wheat head, where the grains grow, can get mildew.
• Gum on the Chaff: A sticky substance can appear on the outer parts of the wheat head, where the grains are held.

Fungicides: A Tool for Farmers

Fungicides are very important chemicals that help farmers protect wheat from fungal diseases. They work in different ways to stop fungi from growing or spreading. Here are some types of fungicides and examples of the chemicals they contain:

• Benzimidazoles: These chemicals, like benomyl and carbendazim, stop fungi from growing by affecting their cells.
• Ergosterol Biosynthesis Inhibitors (EBIs): These fungicides, such as prochloraz, flutriafol, and tetraconazole, stop fungi from making a special substance called ergosterol, which they need to build their cell walls.
• Morpholines: An example is fenpropimorph, which also affects how fungi build their cells.
• Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors (SDHIs): These are newer types of fungicides. They stop fungi from getting energy. Examples include boscalid, fluopyram, fluxapyroxad, and oxycarboxin.
• Strobilurins: Chemicals like kresoxim-methyl stop fungi from breathing, which kills them.
• Phthalonitriles: An example is chlorothalonil, which works in several ways to stop fungi from growing.

Farmers must be careful when using fungicides because diseases can sometimes become resistant to them, meaning the chemicals stop working as well over time. This is why scientists are always looking for new and better ways to protect wheat crops.