The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has formulated an emergency list of pesticides for the control of wheat stem base rot, with fludioxonil‑thiamethoxam and others receiving priority recommendation.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in order to strengthen disease prevention and control and ensure stable wheat production and a bountiful harvest, the ministry has formulated the “Technical Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Wheat Stem Base Rot.” In response to the current situation—where registered pesticides are insufficient to meet防控 needs—the ministry, in accordance with relevant provisions of the Regulations on the Administration of Pesticides and following expert discussions and comprehensive assessments, has developed a recommended list of emergency control agents for wheat stem base rot.

Technical Guidance on the Prevention and Control of Wheat Stem Base Rot

Wheat stem base rot is a fungal disease caused by pathogens such as Fusarium pseudograminearum and Fusarium graminearum, which infect the basal stem of wheat and can occur throughout the entire growth period. Influenced by factors including the extensive practice of returning straw to the field and the continuous accumulation of pathogen inoculum, the disease has recently shown a trend of expanding geographic distribution and increasing severity, becoming a major threat in key wheat-producing regions such as the Huang–Huai–Hai Plain. It not only poses a serious risk to stable wheat yields and bountiful harvests but also jeopardizes wheat quality and safety. To strengthen the prevention and control of wheat stem base rot, these guiding recommendations have been formulated.

I. Prevention and Control Strategies

Wheat stem base rot is preventable and controllable but incurable; therefore, prevention must be prioritized, with guidance tailored to crop types and region-specific strategies. Building on the rational selection of resistant varieties and enhanced fertilizer‑and‑water management, in wheat–corn double-cropping areas such as the Huanghuaihai Plain, emphasis should be placed on the “one plowing, one seed treatment, one spray” approach: deep plowing before sowing to eliminate stubble, treating seeds with fungicides at planting, and applying foliar sprays during the green-up stage. These measures aim to reduce pathogen inoculum in the field, curb early‑season infection, and mitigate disease severity later in the season, thereby effectively lowering the risk of recurrent outbreaks. In other wheat-growing regions, focus on seed treatment at planting, supplemented by targeted applications during the green-up period to control diseases such as sheath blight, using appropriate fungicides for integrated management.

II. Prevention and Control Technologies

(1) Select disease‑resistant or tolerant varieties. Although currently there is a lack of wheat varieties with high resistance to stem base rot, field observations and resistance evaluations conducted by experts in recent years have identified several cultivars—such as Kaimai 18, Zhoumai 24, Fengde Cunmai No. 20, Cunmai 618, Xumai 2023, Fengde Cunmai No. 5, Cunmai 29, Zhengmai 6687, Qiule 168, Luomai 26, Xinong 519, and Zhongyu 1702—that exhibit a certain degree of resistance or tolerance to the disease. In regions where the disease is severe, these varieties can be promoted and planted on an area‑specific basis, taking into account their regional adaptability.

(2) Implement deep plowing to eliminate stubble. In regions where wheat stem base rot is recurrent, such as the Huanghuaihai Plain, promote the incorporation of chopped or decomposed straw into the soil, followed by deep tillage before sowing (which may be carried out every 2–3 years) to a depth of 25–30 cm. This approach minimizes the amount of surface soil and straw on the soil surface, thereby reducing the initial pathogen population and lowering the likelihood of early‑season infection.

(3) Delay sowing to an appropriate time, tailored to local conditions. Based on the severity of stem base rot in the area and the weather during the autumn sowing period, moderately postpone the winter wheat planting date to reduce pre-winter pathogen infection and mitigate disease incidence. If autumn temperatures are relatively high, advance the sowing date by 7–10 days; accordingly, increase the seeding rate and adjust the sowing depth according to the number of days delayed. Typically, for every 2–3 days of late sowing, add approximately one jin per mu to the seeding rate. The optimal sowing depth is 3–5 centimeters, ensuring a high emergence rate and an adequate stand density before winter.

(4) Strengthen seed treatment with fungicides and insecticides. From post‑sowing to before winter, wheat stem base rot pathogen infection is at its most critical stage; selecting appropriate formulations for seed coating or seed dressing can effectively prevent disease occurrence. In conjunction with the management of other soilborne, seedborne, and early‑stage pests and diseases, use registered products such as fludioxonil‑thiamethoxam, or emergency‑use recommended agents (see appendix), and vigorously promote the adoption of seed treatment practices.

(5) Strengthen chemical control during the green-up period. The green-up period is a critical time for managing spring‑time damage caused by wheat stem base rot. In heavily affected areas such as the Huanghuaihai region, integrated management of sheath blight, aphids, and weeds can be carried out by applying appropriate fungicides (see the attached list of recommended products), which will further help to curb disease incidence. When applying pesticides, it is advisable to use self‑propelled boom sprayers or knapsack sprayers; care should be taken to lower the spray nozzle height and adjust its direction, increase the water volume appropriately, and focus application on the base of the wheat stems.

In addition, rotating wheat with rice, rapeseed, and other crops, along with the appropriate application of phosphate, potash, and zinc fertilizers, and timely irrigation during the booting and heading stages to maintain adequate soil moisture, can help reduce the incidence and severity of diseases. Seed treatment or foliar spraying with biocontrol agents such as Bacillus spp. and Trichoderma spp., as well as plant‑induced resistance regulators, also demonstrates a certain degree of efficacy against wheat stem base rot. Localities should intensify efforts to conduct, demonstrate, and promote integrated chemical and biological control strategies.

III. Prevention and Control Requirements

(1) Strengthen the implementation of responsibilities. Fully recognize the critical role of effective control and prevention of wheat stem base rot in ensuring stable yields and a bountiful harvest, and earnestly implement the prevention and control mechanism of “government leadership and local responsibility.” Grounded in prevention, addressing issues early and at their inception, we will enhance organizational leadership, refine preventive measures, and ensure that control efforts are carried out effectively and in an orderly manner.

(2) Strengthen integrated pest and disease management. Increase financial support and, through service procurement and other mechanisms, fully leverage the roles of various specialized and socially organized service providers. Vigorously promote unified deep tillage and land preparation, standardized seed treatment with chemical agents, and coordinated pesticide application and spray‑based protective operations, thereby effectively enhancing the organizational efficiency and scientific rigor of wheat stem base rot control.

(3) Strengthen guidance and services. Plant protection institutions under agricultural and rural departments at all levels should intensify monitoring and surveys, clearly identify the incidence and damage caused by wheat stem base rot, pinpoint priority control areas, refine technical measures, and place particular emphasis on ensuring proper selection and application of pesticides. During critical periods, they should dispatch personnel to the field to provide on-site guidance, thereby ensuring that preventive and control measures are effectively implemented in the fields.

(4) Strengthen publicity and guidance. Make full use of media platforms such as television, radio, newspapers, the internet, and WeChat official accounts, and employ diverse approaches—including organizing technical training sessions and distributing informational leaflets—to widely publicize the severity of wheat stem base rot and the necessity of its prevention and control, disseminate knowledge and skills for disease management, and foster a favorable environment for implementing control measures.

Recommended List of Pesticides for Emergency Control of Wheat Stem Base Rot

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations on the Administration of Pesticides, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has convened experts to review and assess the efficacy and safety of registered pesticides for wheat and related crops in China. Based on the results of field trials, expert consultations, and comprehensive evaluations, the following list of recommended pesticides for the emergency control of wheat stem base rot has been formulated.

I. Seed Treatment Agents

1. Registered seed treatment products for the control of wheat stem base rot include: fludioxonil–thiamethoxam (must be products that have obtained pesticide registration and other relevant permits);

2. Seed treatment products already registered for the control of other wheat diseases include: difenoconazole·fludioxonil·thiamethoxam, tebuconazole·imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin·triticonazole, fludioxonil·azoxystrobin, difenoconazole·fludioxonil, cyproconazole·tebuconazole, difenoconazole, pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole (provided they are products that have obtained the relevant pesticide registration and other required permits).

3. Seed treatment agents not yet registered for use on wheat: tebuconazole and triflumizole (must be products that have obtained the relevant pesticide registration and other required permits, and must be used under the trial‑demonstration and technical guidance of the local agricultural and rural affairs authorities).

II. Foliar Spraying During the Seedling Stage

Single‑active ingredients and their formulated mixtures registered for use on wheat, including prothioconazole, propiconazole, cyproconazole, pyraclostrobin, epoxiconazole, cyproconazole‑ethyl, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, and chlorothalonil.

This recommended drug list is valid until April 30, 2025.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs