Ergot Management in Cereals

Tip #3: Manage Disease Pressures

Ergot is a fungal disease that can infect wheat, barley, oats, durum, rye and canary seed, as well as grassy weeds in your fields. Ergot bodies contain harmful alkaloids and should not be consumed by humans or fed to animals. Implementing proactive management strategies is crucial to minimize the risk of ergot contamination. While ergot infections don’t typically cause major yield losses, this disease poses a serious threat to your grain quality and market access.

This cereal disease arises from infection by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. Ergot infects cereal crops when airborne spores of the fungus land on the plant’s flowers. These spores germinate on the surface of the flower, penetrating and colonizing the developing grain. This process results in the formation of a hard, dark structure called a sclerotium, which replaces the healthy grain kernel. The sclerotia bodies are toxic to humans and animals. Flowering or anthesis is the most critical time for ergot infection. Cool, wet weather conditions during flowering increase the risk. It is vital to monitor weather forecasts and field conditions closely during this period. If conditions are conducive to ergot development, steps to mitigate spread should be taken.

Ergot is a grading factor for Canadian cereals, meaning its presence affects the grain’s quality assessment.

Market Access Considerations:

Ergot produces toxic alkaloids (mycotoxins) that pose risks to both animal and human health. Even low levels of contamination can lead to downgrading, rejection of grain shipments and additional cleaning requirements. Be aware that some export markets for Canadian cereals have established maximum levels for ergot sclerotia and/ or ergot alkaloids in grain.

Proactive management is key. Effective ergot management is not only crucial for producing safe and high-quality grain but also for ensuring access to domestic and international markets.

Keep it Clean recommends the following best practices to manage ergot and help keep markets open for Canadian cereals:

• Start with Ergot-Free Seed: Planting clean seed is the foundation of ergot management. Remember, there are no effective seed treatments to eliminate existing ergot contamination. If using saved seed, meticulous cleaning is essential.

• Implement a Strategic Crop Rotation: Ergot sclerotia (the hard, black ergot bodies) can persist in the soil for approximately one year. A well-planned crop rotation — moving away from susceptible cereals for at least one to two years — significantly reduces the carryover of ergot inoculum. Avoid planting spring cereals near winter cereals, as this can create a disease bridge.

• Proactive Grass Weed Management: Many grassy weeds can also be hosts for the ergot fungus. Implement a robust weed control program to prevent these weeds from being a host for ergot that can infect your cereal crop.

• Optimize for Uniform Crop Stands: A dense, uniform cereal stand minimizes the opportunity for ergot infection. Ensure optimal plant establishment using high-quality seed with strong germination and a balanced nutrient management plan. Healthy, competitive plants are less susceptible.

• Harvest with Ergot Awareness: Before harvest, carefully scout your fields, paying particular attention to headlands and areas with a history of ergot. If heavily infected areas are identified, consider strategies such as harvesting them separately and managing that grain accordingly to prevent wider contamination.

• Thorough Grain Cleaning Post-Harvest: After harvest, it is essential to clean your grain effectively to remove any ergot bodies. Utilize cleaning equipment such as gravity tables or colour sorters, which can separate ergot sclerotia based on their size, density and colour.

• Be Informed on Tolerance Levels: Familiarize yourself with the acceptable tolerance levels for ergot in marketed grain to avoid downgrading and potential rejection.

Managing disease pressures is one of the 5 Tips to keep your crops market ready. By limiting the presence and severity of ergot in your cereal crops, you can safeguard your crop investment and ensure more marketing avenues remain available for your cereal grains.