Great expectations for the wheat harvest

With an estimated production of more than five thousand tons in 2015, according to the National Supply Company (Conab), this year, the wheat harvest in Brazil begins with excellent expectations regarding weather conditions due to La Niña.

Within a crop rotation program, wheat has been one of the alternatives for winter cultivation, and the southern region of Brazil is responsible for around 90% of wheat production. However, in recent years, some difficulties have been faced by producers, such as climate and phytosanitary issues, which compromised production and the quality of the final product, resulting in a drop in prices.

Leaf spots are caused by fungi and have been, alongside rust, one of the main diseases of the crop. Its increase is directly linked to the use of infected seeds and monoculture, which can cause losses of up to 80% in final production.

The main measures to combat wheat diseases are: carrying out crop rotation, using cultivars with genetic resistance and choosing and applying the correct fungicide. The combination of these methods directly reflects on the health of the crop and, consequently, on increased productivity. Research carried out in Passo Fundo (RS) by Professor Erlei Melo Reis demonstrated the efficiency of the fungicide composed of epoxiconazole and cresoxim in controlling leaf spots in the last harvest.

Like leaf spots, leaf rust (Puccinia Triticina) can also cause losses of up to 80% in productivity. The disease can manifest itself from the appearance of the first leaves until the plant matures, and develops best in mild temperatures (15°C to 20°C), high relative humidity and leaf wetness of 4 to 6 hours. Preventive measures, such as the use of tolerant cultivars, chemical control with triazole, strobirulin and protectants, combined with good weather expectations, will provide wheat producers with a good harvest this year.