Wheat Diseases

All Wheat Diseases Content

Wheat plants in a field showing viral symptomology of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus.

Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus Confirmed in 2026

At the end of April, a winter wheat sample was submitted to the Plant Diagnostic Clinic displaying typical viral symptoms of chlorosis and streaking. Upon testing, this sample was determined to be positive for Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus.

aerial view of South Dakota farm and surrounding land

Crops

During the growing season, SDSU Extension provides weekly production recommendations.

grass leaves with yellow and brown streaking on the tops and edges

Grass Diseases of South Dakota Identification Guide

Common grass disease identification guide.

a person holding a leaf that has yellow, brown and green streaking.

Bacterial Leaf Streak in Wheat Varieties Adapted to South Dakota

Research trial results for Bacterial Leaf Streak tolerance in winter and spring wheat varieties grown in a disease nursery near Volga, South Dakota.

South Dakota Pest Management Guides

The South Dakota Pest Management guides are now available for free. The guides offer recommendations for controlling weeds, insects, and diseases in a variety of South Dakota crops.

Wheat

The SDSU Extension team provides unbiased, research-based information to help wheat growers make decisions to improve yields and profits.

People stand in a field listening to a person speak

SDSU Extension programs help producers maintain healthy crops

August 26, 2025

Madalyn Shires puts on a lot of miles in the summer. As an assistant professor and SDSU Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, Shires traverses the state visiting research plots and educating crop producers on that research.

Aster Yellows Phytoplasma

Aster yellows is a phytoplasmal disease carried and introduced by aster leafhopper. It is known to infect over 80 different plant families, as the aster leafhopper has extremely broad feeding habits.

Green wheat leaves with yellow streaks throughout.

Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus Complex: Breaking the Green Bridge

As wheat harvest proceeds, it won’t be long until winter wheat planting is underway in South Dakota. To effectively reduce wheat streak mosaic virus, it is important to manage the green bridge effect to slow spread of disease in newly emerging wheat fields.

Wheat plants infected with wheat streak mosaic virus.

Volunteer Wheat and Kochia Management With Herbicides Will Likely Require Two Passes

Wheat curl mites, which carry wheat streak mosaic virus, use volunteer wheat and grass weeds as secondary hosts to infest recently planted winter wheat crops. Therefore, effective management of these plants before winter wheat planting is critical.