Dr. Robyn Roberts
Field Crops Pathologist and CSU Assistant Professor Robyn.Roberts@colostate.edu*
970-491-8239
*Email is the best way to reach me
Disease Observations
Common root rot
A few fields have reported a small amount of common root rot. This disease is caused by a complex of several soil-borne fungi. Prolonged drought stress coupled with high soil temperature in the fall promotes early disease development, so conditions last fall were favorable for disease. Soil compaction and over-fertilization are also major factors, so common root rot will vary from site to site depending on those conditions.
Tan Spot
We have a few reports of limited tan spot in some fields. Tan spot is caused by a fungal pathogen that needs cool, moist conditions to cause disease. Tan spot observations have been limited and hard to find, but it can appear this time of the year. It should not cause major problems due to the dry weather.