Guidelines for the prevention and control of major diseases and pests, including wheat scab, have been released.

Adhering to the plant protection policy of “prevention first, integrated control,” we have implemented a working mechanism of “government leadership and local responsibility,” strengthened monitoring and early warning, promoted the rational use of pesticides, and advanced unified pest management. These measures have effectively enhanced the organizational and scientific sophistication of wheat scab prevention and control, reduced the risk of mycotoxin contamination, and minimized losses caused by wheat scab. The coverage rate of unified pest management through various approaches has reached over 60%.

Centering on the prevention and control of Fusarium head blight, a comprehensive approach is adopted, incorporating seed treatment with fungicides, the use of disease-resistant cultivars, sound cultural practices, and timely application of highly effective fungicides during critical growth stages, thereby effectively enhancing overall disease‑and‑pest‑management efficacy and mitigating the severity of damage.

(1) Promote disease‑resistant and tolerant varieties. Based on local conditions, cultivate high‑quality wheat varieties with strong resistance or tolerance to Fusarium head blight. In the Huainan wheat region, prioritize planting Ningmai 13, Ningmai 26, Yangmai 23, Yangfumai No. 4, Shengxuan No. 6, Huamai No. 5, Huamai No. 6, Zhenmai 168, Zhenmai 10, Zhenmai 12, Nongmai 88, and Sumai 188—varieties that exhibit relatively good disease tolerance—and conduct demonstration plantings of Yangmai 33. In the areas along and north of the Huai River, sow Huaimai 43, Huaimai 44, Xunong 029, Ruihuamai 516, Ruihuamai 523, and Xinong 979—varieties with favorable disease‑tolerance traits. Reduce the acreage devoted to susceptible varieties and limit the proportion of highly susceptible cultivars; adhere to site‑specific variety deployment, and strictly prohibit inter‑regional introduction or the indiscriminate adoption of northern varieties prone to disease. Strengthen management of the “multiple, disorganized, and mixed” variety landscape, emphasizing relative uniformity within each region: each county should designate 2–3 principal varieties and supplement them with a few secondary ones, thereby facilitating field operations and pest‑management guidance.

(2) Implement seed treatment. In the Huainan rice‑wheat rotation area, focus on controlling smut, stem base rot, and sheath blight by applying suspension‑type seed coatings containing tebuconazole, difenoconazole, benomyl‑fludioxonil, azoxystrobin‑trifloxystrobin, and fludioxonil‑pyraclostrobin. Conduct trials and demonstrations using cyproconazole, prothioconazole, and triflumizole to manage stem base rot while simultaneously suppressing early‑season infection by Fusarium head blight pathogens. In the Huaibei dry‑land wheat area, prioritize control of underground pests, aphids, root rot, and sheath blight by using suspension‑type seed coatings containing thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, phoxim, fludioxonil, and tebuconazole. In regions where multiple diseases and pests co‑occur, consider suspension‑type seed coatings such as tebuconazole‑imidacloprid, difenoconazole‑fludioxonil‑thiamethoxam, oxyma‑benzene‑thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid‑fludioxonil‑benzyl. Strive to achieve a 90% coverage rate of seed treatment in areas heavily threatened by smut, stem base rot, and root rot, as well as in zones where sheath blight and underground pests are prone to recurrence; ensure full seed‑treatment coverage in seed‑production and multiplication fields.

(3) Enhance field management. Strengthen tillage and land‑preparation practices, improve the quality of straw incorporation and seedbed preparation, and encourage an additional rotary tillage pass before sowing to eliminate stubble and incorporate straw. Depending on local conditions, employ methods such as plowing or rotary tillage to remove stubble and bury straw, thereby reducing the initial population of pests and pathogens. Adhere to timely sowing, appropriate seeding rates, and controlled sowing depths to prevent “deep sowing, exposed seeds, and clumped seeds,” ensuring uniform emergence and vigorous seedling establishment. Promote moderate post‑sowing compaction to close soil cracks, increase seed–soil contact, promote uniform and complete emergence, conserve soil moisture, and protect against frost damage. This also enhances plant stress tolerance and disease resistance, while reducing the risk of herbicide injury and frost damage.

(4) Adhere to scientific pesticide application. Uphold a prevention‑oriented, proactive control strategy, mounting a comprehensive campaign focused on Fusarium head blight while also addressing powdery mildew, rusts, and aphids during the heading stage. For Fusarium head blight, implement “timely control, spray at flowering” measures, seizing the critical period of wheat heading and anthesis to promptly apply highly effective formulations combining cyproconazole, prothioconazole, fluxapyroxad, and tebuconazole, thereby reducing disease incidence and minimizing the risk of mycotoxin contamination. In fields and for varieties with high epidemic risk, carry out a second spray to ensure effective pest and disease management; rotate fungicides with different modes of action, and discontinue use of carbendazim alone or in combination in areas where resistance has developed, to maintain control efficacy. For sheath blight, adhere to threshold‑based management: when the incidence of infected plants reaches 10%, promptly apply agents such as jinggangmycin, thifluzamide, or tebuconazole. For powdery mildew and rusts, when the proportion of infected leaves reaches 5–10% for powdery mildew or 0.5–1% for rusts, timely foliar sprays of fungicides—including flusilazole, prothioconazole, cyproconazole, azoxystrobin, and pyraclostrobin—should be applied. For aphids, when the population exceeds 800 per 100 plants, employ insecticides such as acetamiprid, imidacloprid, or pirimicarb for spray control. Vigorously promote the use of high‑efficiency application equipment, including self‑propelled boom sprayers, agricultural drones, and electrostatic sprayers, ensuring adequate doses of both pesticide and water to guarantee effective control. After maturity, harvest wheat promptly, winnow, air‑dry, and dry it thoroughly to prevent excessive grain moisture during harvesting and storage, which could re‑activate Fusarium fungi and lead to mycotoxin contamination.