Influence of wheat leaf position on leaf rust severity

Summary The relation between flag leaf position and leaf rust severity was investigated in field experiments. Different leaf angles were obtained by attaching ends of flag leaves to strings stretched at different heights along wheat rows. Leaves with angles between lamina and stem of 0° and 45° were significantly less diseased than leaves with horizontal and pendulous positions. In the experiment with seedlings, spore settling and uredia number were significantly lower on erect than on horizontal leaves. The influence of wheat leaf position changes on leaf rust severity was discussed. It has been suggested that breeding of wheat cultivars with erect leaves can improve their resistance to airborne pathogens.