Fungus creeps into state alfalfa fields
(Continued from Page Al)
there and we don’t know how long
we’ve had the disease,” Leath
said.
Verticillium wilt, which
resembles fusarium wilt and
anthracnose, interferes with water
movement throughout the plant
said Leath. The plant leaflets
wither and turn brown followed by
stem dehydration. Eventually the
fungus invades the crown and kills
theplant.
The recent discoveries showed
up in 1978 seedings. He explained
'the disease worsens in the second
and third year of the stand.
“Farmers will probably take the
field out in three years rather than
five or six,” Leath said.
‘We didn’t expect to find it
because we’re too far south. ”
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Leath explained the fungus,
native to Europe, is usually found
in cooler climates and was
probably brought to this country in
seed.
The disease was first discovered
in the U.S. in 1977. Idaho,
Washington and Oregon, seed
producing states, were the first to
report alfalfa damage. Wisconsin
and New York crops were affected
last year.
Since the outbreak in the western
states, plant breeders have been
working on resistant varieties.
“About every commercial
company we’ve got has something
coming,” he said.
Although the same fungus exists
now in both Europe and the U.S.,
the big difference, said Leath, is
the stage of the disease.
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In Europe the fungus produces
spores on the outside of alfalfa on
stems and can be easily carried in
the wind or rain producing a
contagious situation.
“To date in the U.S. we have not
observed that happening,” Leath
explained.
Instead, the present stage of the
disease found within the stem and
roots in the state crops would move
slowly or creep along within a
field.
Meanwhile, the summer is
almost over and most of the crop
has either been baled or ensiled.
But John Baylor, extension forage
agronomist explained that feeding
the crop will not be a problem.
“There is very little evidence
that diseases in general on forage,
would harm animals consuming
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it,” said Baylor.
“The economical loss,” he said,
“is in the field.”
The most effective control
measure, said "Leath, is to get
resistant varieties out as fast as
possible.
Because hay moves at the state
and national level, quarantine
would not be feasible.
healthy alfalfa plant, left, and cause withering and eventually
death as depicted by infected plant, right.
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The USDA will, however,
recommend machinery sanitation,
a similar control measure for
anthracnose.
USDA representatives are ex
pected to survey the northern part
of the state next week, said Leath.
“We’re not sure what we’re
going to have yet but it looks like
we’re ahead of it.
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