Assessment of plant varieties and disease management to improve hop and barley quality
- Research Date
- 2024
- Authors
- Martin Chilvers
- Crop Categories
- Barley, Hops
Michigan ranks fourth in hop production with about 720 acres grown in the state while Michigan’s barley industry is worth $1.8 million annually. The most economically important late season barley disease is Fusarium head blight that can introduce a mycotoxin in beer. Hops are affected by late season cone blights, such as downy mildew and a recently discovered disease known as halo blight. These diseases of hop induce cone shatter, alter hop aromas, and can cause over 50% yield loss. This proposal’s focus is on late season diseases and maximizing crop quality of barley and hops for both Michigan industries.