Use of wheat cultivar blends to improve grain yield and quality and reduce disease and lodging

Cultivar blends can provide a measure of disease control due to host diversity. The diversity of cultivar blends also may be useful for improving agronomic performance and end-product quality. This paper reports on the performances of blends (0:1, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 1:0) of two fall-sown hard red spring wheat cultivars, Yolo (high grain yield, low susceptibility to septoria tritici blotch and leaf rust, good lodging resistance, poor grain quality) and Serra (high grain yield, high susceptibility to septoria tritici blotch and leaf rust, high susceptibility to lodging, excellent grain quality). The blends were grown in several environments in California for 3 years. The taller Serra was more competitive than Yolo in the various blends. Spike populations of Serra often were larger in blends than expected from the proportion of seed sown. Spikes of Yolo in blends had fewer spikelets than spikes of Yolo in sole crop Yolo, while spikes of Serra in blends had more spikelets than spikes of Serra in sole crop Serra. Blends had advantages over sole crops in several respects. When disease pressure was moderate or high, blends had less leaf rust and septoria tritici blotch than sole crop Serra, but more disease than sole crop Yolo. When lodging occurred, blends had less lodging than sole crop Serra. Overall, there were no significant differences in yield among the blends and sole crops of Serra or Yolo. The blends produced grain protein and baking quality equivalent to sole crop Serra and better than sole crop Yolo. The 2:1 Yolo:Serra blend was the optimum blend and is an attractive alternative to sole crop Yolo or sole crop Serra for wheat growers in the Sacramento Valley of California.     

Grain weight response to foliar diseases control in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Foliar diseases are the main biotic restriction reducing yield in wheat crops affecting both, grain number and/or grain weight, depending on developmental stage at which infection occurs (pre- or post-anthesis, respectively). Grain weight reductions due to foliar diseases were widely reported in the literature mostly associated with decreases on radiation interception during the grain filling period. However, different evidences in wheat showed variations on grain weight responses when fungicide was applied during the grain filling period, probably associated with the timing of fungicide application or with the amount of available resources per grain set when fungicides are applied. The present study was designed to determine the causes of grain weight reduction due to foliar diseases complex (including leaf rust, Septoria leaf blotch and tan spot) in wheat crops growing under contrasting agronomic and environmental conditions (i.e. different years, locations, cultivars and N supply). The experiments were carried out during 4 years under field conditions in different locations of Argentine and France. Five different commercial wheat cultivars were sown on early and late sowing dates; and two contrasting N availability and two fungicide treatments (protected and unprotected) were applied. Grain number was not affected by foliar diseases as their appeared after anthesis. Grain weight was strongly, poorly or not affected by foliar diseases and was not associated individually with both, the sink size and the source size. However, when the grain weight response due to fungicide application was plotted against the healthy area absorption per grain (HAA_G), a significant negative association (r² = 0.81; p < 0.0001) was found for the Argentine experiments. When the HAA_G was corrected by the grain weight potential (HAA_GW) all experiments conduced in Argentine and in France fit well to a common negative linear regression (r² = 0.74, p < 0.0001) for the relationship between grain weight variation and HAA_GW demonstrating that grain weight potential is an important feature to consider in diseases control programs. Foliar diseases forced the crop to use the accumulated reserved increasing the utilization rate of the water soluble carbohydrates (WSC_UR), depleting as a consequence the water soluble content at physiological maturity (WSC_PM) in all experiments. The association between WSC_UR and the healthy area absorption per grain corrected by grain weight of healthy crops (HAA_GW) suggest that foliar diseases in wheat cause source limitation, forcing to the crop to use the WSC reserve which could be insufficient to fill the grains previously formed.     

Net blotch in semi arid regions of Morocco. I Epidemiology

Net blotch caused by Pyrenophora teres F. teres, is one of the important diseases in Moroccan barley fields. Contributing factors include the lack of adequate disease and crop management. Furthermore when agricultural techniques were recommended without disease control, objectives were seldom reached and resulted in adverse growers’ reaction. To sustain farmers in the Moroccan semi-arid regions and to optimize barley production, we have focused on net blotch epidemiology and the development of adequate disease management approaches. A field experiment, conducted in five locations for two consecutive years, used six cultivars with different levels of susceptibility to net blotch. These cultivars were grown under high, medium and low inoculum levels of the pathogen, and with and without disease control. Hence, a broad range of disease epidemics was generated. All the disease progress curves showed a depression in disease severity at stem elongation. The boost in biomass production coupled with the relationship between initial disease severity and area under the disease progress curve led us to recommend seed treatment and/or seedling resistance as the initial means of disease control. Although statistical differences were measured in disease severity between fungicide treated and inoculated plots during the growing season, biological differences were not substantial until all the cultivars attained boot stage. Because of this, a single application of foliar fungicide is necessary at boot stage, with a second application needed toward the end of ear emergence when weather conditions favor disease development.     

Economics of foliar fungicides for hard red winter wheat in the USA southern Great Plains

Grain yields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the southern Great Plains are often reduced by the presence of foliar diseases. This study was conducted to determine whether the application of foliar fungicides is an economically optimal management strategy. The effects of fungicide treatment on commercially available hard red winter wheat varieties with differing levels of genetic resistance (i.e., resistant, intermediate, and susceptible) to foliar diseases were investigated at two locations, Apache and Lahoma, OK, USA, for the harvest years 2005–2012. Two fungicides were rotated between the two locations and applied at approximately Feekes growth stage 9–10.5. When averaged across years, plots to which fungicide was applied generated greater average net returns than plots that did not receive fungicide for susceptible varieties at Apache, and for resistant, intermediate, and susceptible varieties at Lahoma. However, foliar fungicide application was not economical in every year at either location suggesting fungicide use should be reassessed each year given that profitability depends on year specific yield potential, prices, and foliar disease conditions. At both locations high disease incidence occurred in all but one site-year when the average March through May relative humidity exceeded 65%. Additional research would be required to determine the relationship between weather, including relative humidity, and disease incidence, and to develop an economic threshold for treatment decision aid.     

Managing crop losses from plant diseases with foliar fungicides, rotation and tillage on a Black Chernozem in Saskatchewan, Canada

The impact of tillage system, rotation sequence and foliar fungicides on diseases and seed yield and quality of wheat, barley, pea, canola and flax was determined in the second cycle of three, 4-year rotations from 1998 to 2001 on a Black Chernozem (Udic Boroll) at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of reduced-tillage production systems, broadleaf cropping intensity and fungicide use on cereal, oilseed and pulse crops in northeastern Saskatchewan, a sub-humid region of the northern Great Plains. A split-split plot design was used with three tillage systems (conventional, minimum and no-till) as main plots, three rotations of increasing broadleaf crop intensity (1. canola-wheat-barley-barley; 2. canola-barley-pea-wheat; and 3. canola-pea-flax-barley) as sub-plots, and fungicide treatments (treated or untreated) as sub-sub-plots. Fungicides appropriate for the diseases of concern were applied at recommended crop development stages and application rates, followed by assessment of diseases. Tillage system had little impact on diseases of any crop, although seed yield was usually greater under no-till for most crops under dry conditions. Rotation was not a major factor in disease severity of most of the crops, except barley in the rotation where it was grown for two consecutive years. Under dry conditions, barley yield was reduced when it followed flax compared with other crops, most likely due to less available soil moisture after flax. Fungicide application had the greatest impact on disease control and seed yield increase, although results varied among crops and years. In conclusion, the findings indicate that tillage system had little effect on disease severity, rotation contributed to greater disease severity only when a crop was grown intensively, such as on its own stubble, and fungicide application had variable effects on both disease control and seed yield.     

First documentation on status of barley diseases from the high altitude cold arid Trans-Himalayan Ladakh region of India

Cold arid trans-Himalayan Ladakh region of India bordering with Pakistan and China is one of most elevated inhabited regions of the world. This region is highly vulnerable to climate change and serious environmental threats resulting in reduction in crop productivity due to risk of agricultural pest and plant pathogens. The present work describes the various diseases attacking barley from this region where the status of barley diseases has not yet been explored. Extensive field surveys were conducted for the first time during 2004-2005 and 475 fields were inspected at the 95 locations. Yellow rust, powdery mildew, leaf spot blotch/blight, covered smut, loose smut, foot/root rot and cereal cyst nematode causing molya disease were encountered during the survey. However, yellow rust, molya and foot/root rot were found as the most destructive diseases. Excellent hotspots of the encountered diseases were identified and marked which may be used for the screening of barley genotypes and determining the impact of climate change on plant diseases.     

Effect of mineral nutrients on spot blotch severity in wheat,and associated increases in grain yield

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is a serious disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the warm lowlands of South Asia. A field study was conducted using two wheat varieties (Bhrikuti and Sonalika) during the 2001 and 2002 wheat seasons in Rampur, Nepal, to determine the effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and chlorine fertilization on reducing spot blotch severity in wheat, and its associated increase in grain yield. Application of N alone reduced spot blotch severity by 8% in 2002. Phosphorus fertilization had no effect on spot blotch development. The balanced application of N, P, and K reduced disease severity by 15 and 22% in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Application of KCl as well as CaCl₂ reduced spot blotch severity, but the former caused 11% greater reduction than the latter. The two varieties responded differently to the mineral nutrients’ effect on spot blotch severity, suggesting the nutrients’ importance in cultivar selection when considering the effect of soil fertility on susceptibility to foliar diseases. The lower disease severity and higher grain yield observed after the application of KCl compared to CaCl₂ showed that KCl should be used on K-deficient soils in the warmer wheat growing regions of South Asia where spot blotch is a serious perennial wheat disease in intensive rice–wheat cropping systems.     

Economic returns from fungicide application to control foliar fungal diseases in winter wheat

Fungicides are commonly applied to control foliar fungal diseases of winter wheat in the central Great Plains of the United States and often are routinely recommended. However, economic benefits from fungicide application in winter wheat have rarely been quantified in this region. A total of eight field experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 in Nebraska, USA to quantify yield increases from fungicide applications to control foliar fungal diseases in winter wheat. Experiments were conducted at the same four locations (Mead, Clay Center, North Platte and Sidney) in both years. The fungicides used were azoxystrobin + propiconazole, pyraclostrobin, propiconazole, azoxystrobin and trifloxystrobin + propiconazole applied at varying rates and growth stages. Average wheat prices were calculated from data provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Average fungicide and fungicide application costs were obtained through surveys of local retailers, chemical manufacturers and commercial applicators. These prices and costs were used to calculate net returns from fungicide treatments. The probability of a positive net return was 0.60, 1.00 and 0.80 in 2006 (dry, low disease severity), 2007 (wet, moderate to high disease severity) and both years combined, respectively. Net returns ranged from $−101 ha⁻¹ to $172 ha⁻¹ in 2006 and from $60 ha⁻¹ to $294 ha⁻¹ in 2007. Net returns were at least two times the total cost ($2 return on $1 investment) in 4 out of 60 or 6.7% of treatments in 2006 and 51 out of 60 or 85% of treatments in 2007. In 2006, the best net returns occurred at Mead and Clay Center and resulted from the treatments 1) azoxystrobin + propiconazole applied at Zadoks growth stage (GS) 31 (first node detectable) at a rate of 0.58 l ha⁻¹ and 2) azoxystrobin + propiconazole applied at GS 31 at a rate of 0.58 l ha⁻¹ and again at GS 37 (flag leaf just visible) at the same rate. In 2007, the treatments that resulted in the best net returns were 1) azoxystrobin + propiconazole applied at GS 39 (ligule/collar of flag leaf just visible) at a rate of 1.02 l ha⁻¹, 2) pyraclostrobin applied at GS 39 at a rate of 0.66 l ha⁻¹, 3) propiconazole applied at GS 39 at a rate of 0.29 l ha⁻¹, and 4) trifloxystrobin + propiconazole applied at GS 39 at a rate of 0.73 l ha⁻¹. For the same fungicide applied at the same rate at GS 31 and GS 39 in 2007 (wet, moderate to high disease severity), the GS 39 application generally resulted in a higher net return than the GS 31 application. Averaged across treatments and locations, net returns were $6 ha⁻¹ and $183 ha⁻¹ in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The results from this study indicate that foliar fungicide application to winter wheat can be profitable in years with moderate to high disease severity; however, net loss can result if fungicides are applied in years with low disease severity.     

Interaction between cultivar and crop management effects on winter wheat diseases, lodging, and yield

The breeding of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for resistance to major fungal diseases has been a priority over the last 15 years in France. During this period, integrated low-input strategies have been developed for winter wheat, to cope with falling grain prices and growing environmental concerns. We investigated the interactions between genotype and management for disease and lodging intensities, and analysed their effects on yield within an integrated crop management (CM) context.

A multi-environment experimental network (13 locations, studied in three seasons, between 1999–2000 and 2001–2002) comprising several combinations of cultivars and CM systems was carried out. Four rule-based CM plans were defined, with a decrease in input level from CM1 (a high-input CM plan designed to maximise the yield of a given cultivar) to CM4 (a low-input system with no fungicide protection, no plant growth regulator applications, a sowing density 40% lower than for CM1, and 90 kg ha⁻¹ less N fertiliser than for CM1). Cultivars were clustered into three groups (cultivar type (CT) CT1–CT3), according to their scores for resistance to diseases, for the analysis of yield, whereas the resistance cultivar rating (CR) for each disease and for lodging was considered for the analysis of disease and lodging intensities.

For all diseases, CM had a significant effect (P<0.0001), with disease intensity increasing from CM1 to CM4, whereas CR had a negative effect (P<0.005). An interaction between CR and CM was also detected for all diseases (P<0.005) except eyespot. Lodging intensity decreased significantly from CM1 to CM4 (P<0.0001), and significant increases in lodging resistance score (P<0.0001) were not associated with a genotype by management interaction.

Lastly, yield was significantly affected by CM (P<0.0001), CT (P<0.0003), and CM by CT interaction (P=0.0023). Cultivar ranking differed as a function of CM for yield, demonstrating that breeding programs focusing on cultivar evaluation in high-input environments do not result in the selection of cultivars suited to low-input environments.     

Integrated management of major wheat diseases in Brazil: an example for the Southern Cone region of Latin America

Wheat is an important crop in the Southern Cone region of Latin America. Some of the common wheat diseases in this region are Xanthomonas streak, spot blotch, tan spot, and leaf blotch and the rusts. Rice blast on wheat could also be a problem in certain years. Disease management through varietal resistance, cultural practices including appropriate fungicidal spraying schedule, levels of tolerance for field and seed infections and seed treatment criteria, have been integrated and used for several years in Brazil. Emphasis in integrated disease management (IDM) is on reduction in use of fungicides and consequently in the cost of production. Wheat productivity in Brazil has almost doubled during the past 10 years, owing mainly to the IDM approach. The IDM practices used in Brazil for each of the major diseases can also be adopted in other Latin-American countries with similar agroecosystems.     

Genetic resistance to and effect of leaf rust and powdery mildew on yield and its components in 50 soft red winter wheat cultivars

Effects of leaf rust (caused by Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici Eriks.) and powdery mildew [caused by Blumeria graminis (DC.) E. O. Speer f. sp. tritici Em. Marchal], on performance of 50 soft red winter (SRW) wheat (Triticum aestivum L) cultivars were evaluated under natural field conditions. Widely grown cultivars released from 1919 to 2009 with varying disease resistance were grown in split-plot experiments in 2010 and 2011. Treated replications received seed treatments of triadimenol, captan and imidacloprid and foliar applications of propiconazole and prothioconazole + tebucanazole fungicides. Non-treated replications received only tebucanazole + metalaxyl + imazalil seed treatments. Final mean disease severity, agronomic, yield-related traits, yield components and spike characteristics were analyzed to determine individual and combined effects of leaf rust and powdery mildew on the cultivars. Yield losses as high as 54% were observed in the susceptible cultivar Red May. Average yield losses ranged from 1% to 21%. Yield losses primarily due to powdery mildew were as high as 14%, and losses primarily due to leaf rust were as high as 33%. Powdery mildew had the largest negative correlation with harvest index and seeds/spike. Leaf rust was most negatively correlated with plant biomass and harvest index, with a less consistent negative relationship with kernel weight.     

Deposition characteristics and biological effectiveness of fungicides applied to winter wheat and the hazards of drift when using different types of hydraulic nozzles

Hydraulic-fan cone, low-pressure fan and two-chamber cone nozzles were used at 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 bar (150, 300 and 600 kPa) to deliver 140, 200 and 3001 ha⁻¹ respectively of a fungicide spray to control mildew and yellow rust in winter wheat. No significant differences in biological effect were obtained although fan nozzles deposited significantly more on the upper parts of the stems, and two-chamber cone nozzles deposited less on the flag leaf and on the upper part of the stems. Because of their higher deposit and more even distribution, fan nozzles should be preferred, operated at a pressure of 1.5–3 bar to deliver a spray volume of 140–190 lha⁻¹ at 7 km h⁻¹ and to obtain an acceptable biological effect. Higher pressure (6 bar) and volume rates gave no improvement in fungicide performance. Adding a surfactant or penetration oil did not change the volume median diameter or proportion of spray liquid in droplets < 150 μm. Less drift was found when using two-chamber cone nozzles at 3 bar than with flat-fan spray nozzles at 1.5 bar. It is concluded that the two-chamber cone nozzle is useful for fungicide application when drift must be avoided.     

Microbial biomass under various soil- and crop-management systems in short- and long-term experiments in Brazil

Management and cropping systems varying in soil mobilization rates and plant-residue inputs may have profound effects on the biological properties of soil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (MB-C and MB-N)—by means of the fumigation-extraction method—under varied soil-management and crop-rotation/succession systems in southern Brazil, correlating the results with yields of soybean and maize crops. The microbial biomass and grain yields were examined at the 0–10 cm layer in four short- to long-term field experiments. Experiment 1 was a 26-year trial consisting of four soil-management systems: (1) no-tillage (NT), (2) conventional tillage [(CT) with disc plough], (3) field cultivator (FC) or (4) heavy-disc harrow (DH), each with a crop succession (CS) of soybean (summer) and wheat (winter). Experiment 2 was a 21-year trial consisting of one CS, soybean/wheat every year) and seven crop rotations (CRs) comprising soybean, maize, wheat and green manures (lupine, radish and black oat), under the NT system. Experiment 3 comprised a 14-year CT trial, and 4-year and 14-year NT trials, with both one CS and two CRs. Experiment 4, a 10-year trial consisted of CT and NT and three CRs. Analyses were performed during the summer and winter croppings. Differences in microbial parameters, as a function of crop succession and rotation, were not easily detected as they varied as a function of a complex combination of plant species and time of implementation of the experiment. In contrast, MB-C and MB-N values were consistently higher—up to more than 100%—under NT in comparison to CT and were associated with higher grain yields. Our results—from this wide range of experiments—suggest that MB-C and, particularly, MB-N are sensitive indicators of the effects of soil- and crop-management regimens.     

湖北省小麦种质资源的分布及农艺性状和抗病性评价

为了解湖北省小麦种质资源特性并发掘可供育种利用的优良基因资源,对保存的874份湖北省小麦种质资源从地理分布、农艺性状、品质及抗病性方面进行了统计分析和综合评价。结果表明：（1）湖北省小麦种质主要分布在平原和丘陵地区,江汉平原麦区分布数量最多,而鄂西北山地麦区小麦资源最为富集,除东经112°74′至114°15′之间、北纬31°18′至32°09′之间和北纬29°37′以南地区分布较少外,其他地区分布较为均匀;（2）供试小麦种质以具有长芒、白壳、红粒、弱冬性和中熟等性状为主,4个产量性状（株高、穗长、千粒重和穗粒数）和4个品质性状（硬度、沉淀值、粗蛋白和赖氨酸含量）的变异幅度大,多样性指数高;（3）抗病性以对根腐病、黄矮病和条锈病抗性最强,而对赤霉、叶锈、秆锈及白粉病的抗性较差;（4）各性状多样性指数从大到小依次为：千粒重＞粗蛋白含量＝赖氨酸含量＞株高＞穗粒数＞沉淀值＞穗长＞硬度＞条锈病抗性＝黄矮病抗性＞根腐叶病抗性＞成熟期＞赤霉病抗性＞根腐穗病抗性＞冬春性＞芒＞壳色＞白粉病抗性＞粒色＞叶锈病抗性＞秆锈病抗性。     

Fungal disease suppression by inorganic salts: A review

This paper reviews the scientific literature on the topic of fungal disease suppression by applications of inorganic salts as alternatives to synthetic fungicides on a global scale for both protected and field crops. Where data were available, the comparative efficacy of inorganic salts with conventional fungicide products is discussed. In total, published evidence was found for 34 inorganic salts (mainly bicarbonates, phosphates, silicates, chlorides and phosphites) that were able to reduce the severity of 49 fungal diseases (of the foliage, stem, fruit, tuber, root and post-harvest) in 35 plant species (vegetables, cereals, fruit crops, root/tuber crops, ornamentals and native plants). The most studied and best controlled disease with inorganic salts was powdery mildew of cucurbits [Sphaerotheca fuliginea (Schltdl.) Pollacci 1913 or Erysiphe cichoracearum DC. 1805; up to 99% efficacy], wheat [Blumeria graminis (DC.) Speer 1975 (f. sp. tritici)] and grapes [Uncinula necator (Schwein.) Burrill 1892]. The next best evidence for disease control was for wheat septoria blotch (Septoria tritici Berk. & M.A. Curtis 1874), rice blast [Magnaporthe grisea (T.T. Hebert) M.E. Barr 1977], potato late blight [Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary 1876] and several other Phytophthora spp. The published evidence suggests that these 34 inorganic salts are generally less effective than conventional fungicides and could not fully replace them. However, their integration in a disease management strategy may enable a reduction in the number of conventional fungicide applications required. The potential for the inclusion of inorganic salts in fungal disease management programmes merits further investigation and greater regulatory innovation in the near future.     

Growing Brassica juncea as a cover crop, then incorporating its residues provide complementary control of Rhizoctonia root rot of sugar beet

Biofumigation is increasingly viewed as a potentially useful technique for controlling soil-borne crop pathogens, but its efficacy has not systematically been demonstrated at field scale. We investigated the differences in efficacy observed in the field, by analysing the mechanisms by which a Brassica cover crop can act as a biofumigant crop in the prevention of soil-borne disease development. We hypothesised that the biofumigant crop might have a negative effect on soil-borne pathogens whilst growing, and that the pulverisation of this crop and the incorporation of its residues into the soil may enhance this effect. We tested this hypothesis by carrying out three field experiments in 2006, 2007 and 2008 in which Brassica juncea (brown mustard) was managed in different ways within a sugar beet–winter wheat rotation and analysing effects on sugar beet root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Three treatments were studied: mustard pulled out at flowering (MP), mustard crushed at flowering and incorporated into the soil (MC) and bare soil (BS) as a control. We assessed the effect of each treatment on root rot incidence and severity at harvest. Over the 3 years of the experiment, disease incidence was significantly higher on BS plots than on the other plots and was significantly higher on MP plots than on MC plots. MC treatment gave a significantly lower mean conditional severity (severity calculated for diseased beets only) than the BS and MP treatments. Mustard residue incorporation was consistently effective at decreasing disease incidence from year to year (43, 44 and 47% efficacy, as determined by comparison with the disease incidence on BS plots, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively), but the efficacy of growing mustard was variable (36, 16 and 39% efficacy in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively). These findings provide insight into the mechanisms by which biofumigant crops may affect soil-borne diseases. These findings have implications for the possible use of biofumigant crops as a biological method for controlling soil-borne diseases at the field scale.     

The economics of fungicide use in winter wheat in southern Sweden

In southern Sweden, fungicide treatment of winter wheat is prevalent and recommended almost routinely against leaf blotch diseases. However, yield increases and hence the resulting net returns from fungicide use are highly variable within and between years. These variations raise questions about whether, when and how fungicides should be used. To help answer these questions, a thorough economic evaluation of fungicide use was carried out, based on results from untreated plots and fungicide-treated plots in trials in farmers' fields, 1983–2007. Scenarios with varying grain prices and costs of fungicide treatment were evaluated and examined. Doubling and tripling the grain price led to the largest impact on the net return from fungicide treatment, followed by increasing cost of the fungicide. Other costs were of minor importance. The mean net return from fungicide use was no more than 12 € ha⁻¹ over the 25 years (2008 grain prices and costs used in calculations). Furthermore, the mean net return was negative in 10 years and less than 50% of the entries were profitable to treat in 11 years. Changes over time and changes in controllable factors (e.g. fungicide and cultivar choice, crop rotation, techniques) and uncontrollable factors (e.g. emerging and new diseases, price relations) influenced the profitability of fungicide use. Fungicide use was in fact more profitable (mean net return 21 compared with 3 € ha⁻¹) during the latter part of the period (1995–2007) than in the earlier part (1983–1994). Improved decision support systems in a holistic framework based on sound economics are urgently needed.     

Diverse no-till irrigated crop rotations instead of burning and plowing continuous wheat

Field burning of residue is a traditional management tool for irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the Inland Pacific Northwest of the United States (PNW) that can result in reduced air quality. A 6-year no-till field experiment to evaluate two complete cycles of a 3-year irrigated crop rotation of winter wheat–spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)–winter canola (Brassica napus L.) was sown (i) directly into standing residue of the previous crop, (ii) after mechanical removal of residue and, (iii) after burning of residue. The traditional practice of continuous annual winter wheat sown after burning residue and inverting the topsoil with a moldboard plow was included as a check treatment. Over-winter precipitation storage efficiency (PSE) was markedly improved when residue was not burned or burned and plowed after grain harvest. Grain yield of winter wheat trended higher in all no-till residue management treatments compared to the check treatment. Average grain yields of spring barley and canola were not significantly different among the no-till residue management treatments. Winter canola failed in 5 of 6 years due to a combination of a newly identified Rhizoctonia damping-off disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-1 and cold temperatures that necessitated replanting to spring canola. Six-year average net returns over total costs were statistically equal over all four systems. All systems lost from $358 to $396 ha^?1. Soil organic carbon (SOC) increased linearly each year with no-till at the 0–5 cm depth and accumulated at a slower rate at the 5–10 cm depth. Take-all of wheat caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici was most severe in continuous annual winter wheat. The incidence and severity of Rhizoctonia on roots of wheat and inoculum of R. solani AG-8, was highest in the no-till treatments, but there was no grain yield loss due to this disease in any treatment. Residue management method had no consistent effect on Rhizoctonia root rot on barley. The annual winter grass downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) was problematic for winter wheat in the standing and mechanically removed residue treatments, but was controlled in the no-till residue burned and the burn and plow check. Another winter annual grass weed, rattail fescue (Vulpia myuros L.), infested all no-till treatments. This was the first comprehensive and multidisciplinary no-till irrigated crop rotation study conducted in the Pacific Northwest.     

国审高产小麦扬辐麦9号选育及配套栽培技术

为进一步提高小麦品种扬辐麦4号的产量和综合抗性,采用辐射诱变与常规杂交育种技术相结合育成高产多穗抗倒小麦新品种扬辐麦9号(原代号:扬辐麦2149)。该品种2015—2016年度参加长江中下游冬麦组区域试验,平均产量6228.3 kg/hm²,比对照扬麦20增产7.49%,增产极显著;2016—2017年度续试,平均产量6454.1 kg/hm²,比对照扬麦20增产7.90%,增产极显著。2017—2018年参加国家长江中下游麦区生产试验,平均产量6385.8 kg/hm²,比对照增产6.72%。2019年通过国家审定(审定编号:国审麦20190005)。该品种分蘖性强,成穗率高,属多穗型小麦新品种,株高79.3 cm,株型较紧凑,穗层整齐,抗倒性强。高抗小麦黄花叶病,中抗赤霉病,中感纹枯病,高感白粉病、条锈和叶锈病,品质达中筋小麦。该品种的推广应用有利于进一步提高小麦产量水平,其综合抗性的提高有利于小麦清洁高效生产。新品种在推广应用过程中还需注意适期播种、优化群体结构、协调群体生长、合理运筹肥料提质增效、综合防治病虫害并及时收获。     

Agronomic and economic assessment of intensive pest management of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Two common production constraints of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Ontario are annual weeds and anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum). Dry bean is not considered a competitive crop and weed interference can result in substantial yield losses, while anthracnose is considered one of the most devastating diseases in dry bean production. A study conducted in Ontario Canada, examined the effect of two herbicide programs on weed management, thiamethoxam insecticide treatment on plant enhancement and three fungicide programs on anthracnose development in a navy bean cv. ‘OAC Rex’. The premium herbicide program (s-metolachlor + imazethapyr) reduced percent weed ground cover relative to the economic herbicide program (trifluralin) in five of six locations. Thiamethoxam increased emergence and vigour at only one location, which contradicts reported benefits of thiamethoxam on plant health. The herbicide or thiamethoxam treatments did not affect anthracnose disease severity, visible seed quality, net yield or economic return. The fungicide seed treatment was often superior to the untreated control, for a number of the parameters measured. The application date of the foliar fungicide, relative to the onset of disease, varied between site-years. This dramatically influenced the fungicide’s effectiveness. Foliar fungicides increased seed quality and net economic return compared to the control when applied prior to disease development. The combination of fungicide seed treatment followed by a foliar fungicide provided the largest reduction in anthracnose severity.