Crop scientists in Ontario are concerned about a potentially devastating mutation in a fungus that affects wheat.
Agronomist Peter Johnson says Stripe Rust can destroy a crop in just a few days, but it was never a serious problem for Ontario farmers because it usually is warmer here than the fungus can tolerate.
"Normally we don't see a lot of stripe rust, in my career this is a first," he says. "It may not be the last because we are pretty sure the fungus has mutated and we now have a more heat tolerant Stripe Rust."
Johnson says the fungus is carried by the wind from the United States but in the past it stopped being a threat in temperatures about 21 C.
However new mutations are surviving in temperatures as warm as 28 C and possibly warmer.
He says it has the potential to devastate wheat yields in just a few days.
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Johnson says it hasn't been a problem for Ontario farmers in the past because it's usually warmer here than the fungus can tolerate.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/JOHNSON-Fungus-1.mp3"][/audio]
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Johnson says the fungus is carried by the wind from the United States.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/JOHNSON-Fungus-2.mp3"][/audio]
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He says the possibility of the disease surviving warmer temperatures than it has in the past is something farmers will have to be prepared to deal with.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/JOHNSON-Fungus-3.mp3"][/audio]
