Volunteer wheat
(Triticum aestivum)

Overview

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Volunteer wheat is an extremely competitive weed with canola and is most detrimental when in competition at early growth stages of the intended crop (canola). The most severe case occurs when volunteer wheat emerges before canola. Volunteer wheat is also known to harbour the wheat curl mite which is known to be a vector for such serious disease as wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and high plains virus, for which all could be detrimental to the desired crop.

Main description

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Seedling
Seedlings leaves are 10-20 cm in length and will begin to tiller as the young plant develops. The ligule and auricles are membranous.

Mature plant
Mature plant ranges from 60-120 cm tall and sprouts from the base.  Ligules clasp the stem but do not overlap. 

Optimal growth conditions

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This grassy weed can grow in as many environments as there are where the crop is grown.