In June of 2022, unusual leaf symptoms were reported in Alberta wheat and barley crops. Initially, the concern was the development of leaf diseases. However, following discussions with Tyler Wist, AAFC Saskatoon, Jennifer Otani, AAFC Beaverlodge, and Hector Carcamo and Haley Catton, AAFC Lethbridge, it was concluded that the white flecking was due to feeding damage by the insect Trigonotylus coelestialium aka the rice-leaf bug or green-grass bug.
Similar symptoms have recently been reported by Craig Shand and crop scouts with Chinook Agronomics in the Crossfield region of Alberta around June 2, 2023. A photo of the observed symptoms is as follows and is courtesy of Chinook Agronomics.
More information on the white flecking in wheat and barley
can be found in the June 2022 PCDMN blog post at the following link: https://prairiecropdisease.blogspot.com/2022/06/unusual-symptoms-in-alberta-barley-and.html.
A big thank you to Craig Shand and crop scouts with Chinook
Agronomics for bringing this to our attention!
