Symptoms of bacterial leaf streak observed on barley seedlings, central Alberta, May 25 and 26, 2023
Symptoms of bacterial leaf streak were observed in a barley field in Lacombe County based on field visits on May 25 and 26, 2023. The symptoms were characterized by water-soaked lesions along the midrib of early leaves, mainly the first true leaf and were at a trace level in the field. Water soaked streaks are the initial symptoms followed by yellowing and necrosis of the affected areas. During wet conditions droplets of bacterial ooze may be observed on leaf lesions, while dried ooze tends to have a "glazed doughnut" appearance. Bacterial streaming was observed from samples with further molecular-based identification of causal agents being done.
Seedling symptoms of bacterial leaf streak have already been reported from a barley field in southern Alberta in the county of Warner around May 23rd. See the following for more information regarding the southern Alberta observations, management suggestions and examples of bacterial leaf streak versus fungal leaf spots in barley. https://prairiecropdisease.blogspot.com/2023/05/report-of-bacterial-leaf-streak-on.html.
Photos of bacterial leaf streak symptoms on barley seedlings, Lacombe County, May 26, 2023, courtesy of AAFC Lacombe. Note soil particles and other debris can be seen on some of the leaves and this is not associated with typical symptoms of bacterial leaf streak.
The PCDMN wishes to acknowledge Carol Holt and Taryn Kanngiesser of Crop Doc Services Ltd. for their careful observations of bacterial leaf streak at the seedling stage from this central Alberta field on May 25 and 26, 2023.