The epidemiology of common root rot in Manitou wheat. IV. Appraisal of biomass and grain yield in naturally infected crops
The effects of common root rot (Cochliobolus sativus) on plant biomass and grain yield in naturally infected Triticum aestivum cultivar Manitou were studied at Matador, Saskatchewan, by sampling plants at intervals from seeding to maturity in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Plants were categorized according to the extent of subcrown internode lesions as clean, slight, moderate, or severe. Dry weights and grain yields of plants in each category were determined. Decreasing mean dry weight per plant at all dates and grain yield per plant were consistently associated with increasing disease severity. Significant differences in biomass and grain yield generally existed between clean and slight, slight and severe, and moderate and severe categories. Very close relationships existed between losses in biomass and grain yield both per plant and per unit area. Overall mean biomass losses at maturity in severe, moderate, and slight plants as compared with clean were 58%, 37%, and 25%, respectively; losses in grain yield were 59%, 38%, and 26%, respectively. Biomass losses per square metre increased steadily with time, in all treatments. Grain yield losses per square metre for 1969, 1970, and 1971 summer-fallow checks were 30, 35, and 30%, respectively; the biomass losses at the final sampling dates were analogous.