It is that time of the year to get your wheat tested for viruses. Over the past year, MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic has diagnosed multiple viruses from Missouri wheat samples. In 2023, the clinic continues to offer the five-virus screen test. This test includes testing Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV), Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV), Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and Cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV). The service fee for the test is normally $65 per sample, but in partnership with the MU Integrated Pest Management and MU Extension Field Crop Pathology programs we will offer the service FOR FREE. With this service, we hope to collect both wheat variety and location data of current incidences of wheat virus in Missouri to better understand the disease severity and help growers better prepare for controlling detected diseases in the next season.

Symptoms of Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV) showing yellow lesions running parallel to the leaf veins and leaving spindle shaped appearances on some leaves. Photo: Peng Tian

When collecting samples in the field, please include information on GPS location data and variety for each sample. When submitting a wheat sample for virus tests, it is important to follow the guidelines to ensure sample quality. This article details wheat sample collection and submission: https://ipm.missouri.edu/croppest/2022/4/wheatVirus-PT/

For more information on sample submissions, please visit MU-PDC website.