Effect of rotation with barley and oats on crown rot of wheat in the northern wheat belt of New South Wales

We investigated the incidence of Fusarium graminearum Group 1 (infection, stem colonisation) and crown rot in 3-year crop sequences of 1 or 2 years of barley, oats, or mown oats followed by wheat, compared with 3 years of wheat. Seed was sown into the stubble of the previous crop. Stubble production was estimated for each cereal treatment. Plants of each cereal were infected by the crown rot pathogen. Oats were susceptible to infection but did not express symptoms of crown rot in 2 years of the trial. Oats can, therefore, be considered a symptomless host that may contribute to the maintenance of inoculum. The overall mean incidence of infected plants increased from 12% in 1987 to 81% in 1989. The various treatments did not significantly reduce the incidence of infected wheat plants in November of the final year. The incidence of crown rot of wheat in 1989 was greatest after 2 prior wheat crops and lowest after 1 or 2 years of mown oats. The 3 species produced a similar amount of straw by weight; however, mown oats produced significantly less. Oat straw decomposed more rapidly than that of other cereals in controlled conditions.

Reaction of Australian cultivars of oats and barley to infection by Fusarium graminearum Group 1

The incidence of infection by Fusarium graminearum Group 1 and the incidence of crown rot were compared for various cultivars of oats, wheat and barley in glasshouse and field experiments. In glasshouse studies, the incidence of infected plants was lower in oats than in wheat or barley at 6 weeks after sowing. Crown rot symptoms were not observed in oats of any cultivar. The incidence and severity of crown rot in barley was similar to that in wheat cv. Banks. Between 17 and 29 genotypes of oats, wheat and barley were assessed in field trials over 3 years. Stem browning, a symptom of crown rot, was common in wheat and barley but was not observed in any cultivar of oats. Among plants of wheat and barley, the effect of cultivar on incidence of crown rot was significant (P = 0.05) in 3 of 4 trials. Results suggest that oats are a symptomless host. This should be considered when growing oats in rotation to reduce crown rot inoculum. The barley cultivars assessed all developed moderate-severe crown rot symptoms and thus may incur yield limitations where crown rot is prevalent.

The incidence and spatial patterns of wheat plants infected by Fusarium graminearum group 1 and the effect of crown rot on yield

The incidence and spatial patterns of wheat plants infected by Fusarium graminearum Group 1 were assessed in six fields in northern New South Wales, Australia, over a four-year period. The incidence of infected plants declined from 1978 to 1981 in fields where wheat was sown each year, where there was a bare fallow of 18 months and where sunflowers were sown in one season. The pattern of infected plants tended to be regular (uniform) where the incidence of infected plants was particularly high (> 96%). In all fields where a clustered (aggregated) pattern was detected, 12% to 64.4% of plants were infected. A random pattern was observed at a number of sites. There was a positive association between loss in potential yield and the incidence of infection, basal browning of plants and whiteheads. Losses of up to 89% were recorded.

Survey of the incidence of whiteheads in wheat crops grown in northern New South Wales, 1976-1981

The incidence of whiteheads in wheat in the northern areas of the wheat belt in New South Wales was surveyed from 1976 to 1981. Whiteheads were associated with plants affected by crown rot and were common in wheat crops in the survey areas, although the incidence was low (<5%) in most crops. There was a high incidence of whiteheads (>5%) in a small number of crops in each year. The mean incidence of whiteheads was highest in 1977 and was generally higher in the western, lower rainfall areas than in the other areas each year. The predominant crown rot pathogen Fusarium graminearum Group 1 was isolated from 97% of 1450 stem bases collected from plants with whitehead symptoms. A fallow of 18 months was not always associated with a reduction in the incidence of whiteheads.

The incidence of crown rot in wheat, barley and triticale when sown on two dates

Thirteen bread wheat cultivars, a durum wheat, a barley and a triticale cultivar were assessed in the field for their reaction to crown rot (Fusarium graminearum Group 1), based on the incidence of basal browning. Plots were sown in May and again in July at 2 sites i n northern New South Wales where the incidence of crown rot was high in the previous year. The incidence of infected plants and the incidence of plants with basal browning tended to be higher in all cultivars when sown in May. There was a mean loss in potential yield at 1 site of 35% and 18% at the other site. However, the mean loss in potential yield was unaffected by sowing date.

Inoculation methods for assessing resistance in wheat to crown rot caused by Fusarium graminearum group 1

A range of inocululatron methods for assessing resistance in wheat to crown rot caused by Fusarium graminearum Group 1 was evaluated in the glasshouse and in the field. When grain was colonized with the pathogen, ground and applied with the seed at planting or spread around young plants as an aqueous suspension, high levels of crown rot were produced, but resistance (usually measured as per cent diseased plants or tillers) was still expressed. Similar results were achieved with induced field inoculum obtained by inoculating an area of wheat to obtain a high incidence of disease and incorporating the stubble into the soil. Natural field inoculum and inoculation of seed with spores produced lower levels of disease, although differentiation of resistant and susceptible cultivars was still possible. Other methods, suitable only for plants in pots and often for more specific purposes (for example, for inoculation at different stages of plant growth) were also studied. Resistance was best expressed where inoculum was applied onto or into soil, rather than directly onto or into plants. Currently, the resistance of all potential cultivars for release in Queensland is assessed in the field by sowing seed dusted with benomyl into furrows along which ground, colonized grain is distributed. Crown rot severity is then determined at maturity.

Corrigendum - Inoculation methods for assessing resistance in wheat to crown rot caused by Fusarium graminearum group 1

A range of inocululatron methods for assessing resistance in wheat to crown rot caused by Fusarium graminearum Group 1 was evaluated in the glasshouse and in the field. When grain was colonized with the pathogen, ground and applied with the seed at planting or spread around young plants as an aqueous suspension, high levels of crown rot were produced, but resistance (usually measured as per cent diseased plants or tillers) was still expressed. Similar results were achieved with induced field inoculum obtained by inoculating an area of wheat to obtain a high incidence of disease and incorporating the stubble into the soil. Natural field inoculum and inoculation of seed with spores produced lower levels of disease, although differentiation of resistant and susceptible cultivars was still possible. Other methods, suitable only for plants in pots and often for more specific purposes (for example, for inoculation at different stages of plant growth) were also studied. Resistance was best expressed where inoculum was applied onto or into soil, rather than directly onto or into plants. Currently, the resistance of all potential cultivars for release in Queensland is assessed in the field by sowing seed dusted with benomyl into furrows along which ground, colonized grain is distributed. Crown rot severity is then determined at maturity.