Integrated Control of Powdery Mildew on Field-grown Mango Trees by Foliar Sprays of Mono-potassium Phosphate Fertilizer, Sterol Inhibitor Fungicides and the Strobilurin Kresoxym-methyl

Foliar sprays of solutions of di-potassium hydrogen orthophosphate, K2HPO4 (DKP) and potassium di-hydrogen orthophosphate, KH2PO4 (MKP), commercial systemic fungicides, and an alternating treatment with phosphate fertilizer and systemic fungicides inhibited development of the powdery mildew fungus, Oidium mangiferae, on flowers and bloom clusters of field-grown mango trees. The effectiveness of the alternation treatments with an appropriate systemic fungicide and 1% solution of mono-potassium phosphate (MKP) in controlling powdery mildew on bloom clusters was similar to that of the commercial treatment with the systemic fungicides. However, application of the systemic fungicides alone, on the same dates on which they were applied in the alternation treatment, without application of the phosphate treatment was significantly less effective in controlling the disease than either the phosphate or the alternation treatment. This indicates that the use of phosphate fertilizer has a significant role in disease control and that it can reduce the number of fungicide treatments necessary against powdery mildew by up to 50%. These results were confirmed in large-scale demonstration trials conducted in commercial orchards in 1994 and 1995. Our 1997 findings also revealed that tank-mix treatments of 1% MKP solution with half the recommended quantity of sterol inhibitor fungicide applied at 14-day intervals provided a protection against powdery mildew comparable with or superior to that given by the standard fungicides-based treatment applied at 7-day intervals. Tank-mix treatments of MKP (1%) with sterol inhibitor at the recommended rate or with the new strobilurin Kresoxym-methyl (BAS 490F, strobi), or the BAS 490F alone, were the most effective, and provided >95% protection against O. mangiferae, compared with the control. Phosphate solutions were found not to be phytotoxic to plant tissue. These treatments affected the yield of mango trees: a significantly lower yield was observed on control untreated trees, probably because of powdery mildew infection on flowers. The inhibitory effectiveness of phosphate salts makes them a potential major component of an integrated pest management program.     

抗白粉病胡麻种质资源田间鉴定与筛选

白粉病目前已成为影响胡麻产量和质量最常见的病害之一, 种植抗病品种是防控病害最经济环保的有效措施, 然而抗病亲本材料的缺乏已成为制约抗病品种选育的关键因素。为筛选出抗白粉病胡麻材料, 本研究在田间自然感病的条件下, 采用病情指数法对300份国内外胡麻种质资源材料进行了抗白粉病鉴定和评价。结果表明, 所有供试材料均程度不同地感染胡麻白粉病, 无免疫材料, 仅有5份材料为中抗; 其余295份均为感病材料, 其中8份材料中感, 52份材料感病, 235份材料高度感病。本研究可为抗白粉病胡麻品种的培育及相关抗病基因的发掘提供参考。     

生物源杀菌剂与化学杀菌剂协调防控黄瓜病害

本文研究枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis BAB-1水剂、解淀粉芽孢杆菌B.amylololiquefaciens SAB-1水剂、大花旋覆花内酯乳油与化学杀菌剂交替或混合使用对温室黄瓜病害发展的影响.寿光试验包括以下处理:交替或混合喷施50%啶酰菌胺WG、68.75%氟吡菌胺·霜霉威SC的桶混液、60%唑醚·代森联WG、40%嘧霉胺SC、50%烯酰吗啉WP、10%苯醚甲环唑WG、69%烯酰·锰锌WP、68.75%噁唑·锰锌WG、52.5%噁唑·霜脲氰WG等不同作用机理和防治谱的化学杀菌剂;混施生防菌剂BAB-1水剂、SAB-1水剂及68.75%氟吡菌胺·霜霉威SC、50%烯酰吗啉WP、25%双炔酰菌胺SC、25%吡唑醚菌酯EC等对霜霉病特效化学杀菌剂;将不同化学杀菌剂桶混液与BAB-1水剂、SAB-1水剂和化学杀菌剂桶混液交替喷施.其对黄瓜霜霉病的防效分别为94.5%、92.3%和93.6%,对黄瓜白粉病分别为90.7%、89.9%和90.4%,对灰霉病的防效分别为69.3%、85.6%和85.7%,每种病害的病害发展曲线下面积(AUDPC)相当.在定州试验中,化学杀菌剂与SAB-1混施对白粉病的防效(84%)明显高于其与BAB-1混施的防效(72.8%),对灰霉病的防效(61.3%)明显低于后者的防效(95.1%),与SAB-1、BAB-1混施后对白粉病、灰霉病及霜霉病防效分别为90.2%、89.3%和92.6%.在保定郊区试验中,将大花旋覆花内酯乳油与化学杀菌剂及BAB-1水剂、SAB-1水剂交替喷施显著降低霜霉病、白粉病及灰霉病的严重度及AUDPC,对其防效分别为83.5%、87.4%和88.5%,AUDPC分别为219、352和249,延缓了3种黄瓜病害的发展.     

Comparison of three biological control agents against cucumber powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) in semi-commercial-scale glasshouse trials

The effect of three reported biological control agents, Ampelomyces quisqualis, Verticillium lecanii and Sporothrix flocculosa, was tested against cucumber powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea). Two glasshouse experiments, one in the summer and one in winter/spring were conducted on a semi-commercial scale. In both experiments, a susceptible and a partially resistant cultivar were used. In the second experiment, the additional effect of integration of biological control and silicon amendments to the nutrient solution was also assessed. In both experiments, A. quisqualis did not control the disease. V. lecanii had a small effect on powdery mildew in the first experiment but not in the second. S. flocculosa gave the best control of powdery mildew in both experiments. In the first experiment, weekly application of S. flocculosa reduced disease in the partially resistant cultivar to the same level as a treatment in which the fungicides bupirimate and imazalil were each applied once. Addition of silicon in the nutrient solution in a concentration of 0.75 mM reduced disease by 10–16%, averaged over all treatments. There was no interaction between silicon and the biocontrol agents. Yield was recorded in the second experiment and was significantly increased by the fungicide treatment compared to the control in the partially resistant cultivar. Yield in the treatment with S. flocculosa was not significantly different from the fungicide treatment in this cultivar. Silicon had no effect on yield in either cultivar.     

山西省清徐县葡萄霜霉菌对烯酰吗啉的抗药性分析

葡萄霜霉病是葡萄最重要的病害之一,目前防治霜霉病主要依赖化学药剂,其中羧酸酰胺类杀菌剂是一类重要药剂,然而病原菌抗药性对其防效有重要影响。2015年本实验室首次在中国检测到抗烯酰吗啉的葡萄霜霉菌,并开发了Tetra-Primer ARMS PCR快速检测法来检测抗药性。本研究利用此技术对采自山西省清徐县60株葡萄霜霉菌进行了烯酰吗啉抗性检测,结果显示其中1株具有抗药性,其他59株均为敏感菌株,说明该地区霜霉菌已经开始产生烯酰吗啉抗性,但尚未大范围扩展,需要进行持续监测以指导杀菌剂的使用,这也是首次报道山西省葡萄霜霉菌存在烯酰吗啉抗性菌株。     

植物白粉病的化学防治进展

对植物白粉病的化学防治历史和发展进行了综述 ,同时介绍了一些重要的药剂及其作用机制 ,并讨论了白粉病化学防治中存在的问题。     

Assessment of Partial Resistance to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) in a Tetraploid Rose Population Using a Spore-suspension Inoculation Method

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) is the most important fungal disease in greenhouse roses and is in practice controlled by fungicides. The creation of novel cultivars with durable resistance to powdery mildew is highly desirable. To understand the inheritance of mildew resistance, a tetraploid rose population with a size of 181 seedlings was obtained by crossing two tetraploid genotypes each having partial resistance. The population and its parents were tested under greenhouse conditions with two well-defined monospore isolates (2 and F1) using artificial inoculation with spore suspensions. Disease score at 11 days post-inoculation, latent period and rate of symptom development were used to describe seedling resistance. The tests for both isolates exhibited a wide and significant variation among genotypes for resistance. The distribution of the genotypic means of the disease scores was continuous and showed a considerable transgression. Statistical analysis, scatter plot of disease scores for the isolates, and correlation analyses indicated that the two isolates differed in pathogenicity. The outcome of the tests showed that the inoculation assay with spore suspensions was a reliable and effective way to screen large numbers of genotypes under greenhouse conditions for genetic and breeding studies. This is the first report on spore-suspension inoculation to be used successfully in rose.     

Epidemiological studies on powdery mildew of mungbean and urdbean

Abstract

Powdery mildew of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) and urdbean ( V. mungo L. Hepper) caused by Erysiphe polyponi DC during the winter/spring season is a severe constraint in the production of bean crops in the Chhattisgarh region of Madhya Pradesh. Keeping this in view, studies were made to understand the development of powdery mildew in relation to crops, varieties, weather conditions and their effect on yield. The first appearance of powdery mildew in 33 mungbean and 18 urdbean varieties was 1 week earlier during winter 1992–93 than winter 1991–92. Its development was most rapid each year when the average maximum temperature varied from 27.2 to 30.3°C, relative humidity from 67 to 90% during the morning and 12 to 38% at noon, and wind velocity from 2.3 to 4.1 km/h. A positive correlation occurred between mildew severity and temperatures and wind velocity in most of the varieties. However, the correlation with relative humidity was negative and significant except in a few varieties. The pooled infection rates (r)/unit/day on resistant mungbean and urdbean varieties was less than 0.1 with disease scores of 1–5 while in apparently slow mildewing varieties, rvalues were also less than 0.1 but showed a score of 7–9. The effect of disease levels on grain yield of urdbean had a negative and significant correlation. However, it was negative but not significant in the case of mungbean. Grain yield was considerably higher when the crops were protected with one spray of Bavistin (1 kg/ha in 5001 of water) followed by Sulfex (3 kg/ha in 5001 of water) than in the untreated control. The disease scores in sprayed plots were also markedly less and ranged between 0 and 5 as against 1 and 9 in the untreated control in different varieties.     

1种辣椒新炭疽病的初步鉴定及室内药剂筛选

炭疽病是辣椒上的重要病害,影响了辣椒的产量与品质。生产中,在“辛香15号”辣椒上发现了1种新炭疽病,仅在辣椒果实上发生,典型病斑为椭圆形,周围水渍状,中间呈黑色同心轮纹,无小黑点出现,对常用杀菌剂不敏感;保湿后镜检发现,该病菌产生分生孢子盘,无刚毛,分生孢子近长椭圆形,无色,单孢,大小为12．5μm×3．75μm,有油球,一端稍尖;进一步分离培养病原菌并通过柯赫氏法则验证后,初步将其鉴定为尖孢炭疽菌（Collectotrichum acutatum Simmonds）。为了获得对该病效果好的化学药剂,采用牛津杯法测定了8种化学药剂对病菌的抑制效果,结果表明：250g/L丙环唑乳油3000倍液抑制效果最好且药效持续时间长,可作为该病的候选药剂。本试验结果可为防治尖孢炭疽菌引起的辣椒炭疽病提供理论依据和用药参考。     

Crop damage caused by powdery mildew on hop and its relationship to late season management

Powdery mildew of hop (Podosphaera macularis) may cause economic loss due to reductions in cone yield and quality. Quantitative estimates of crop damage from powdery mildew remain poorly characterized, especially the effect of late season disease management on crop yield and quality. Field studies in Washington State evaluated cone yield, bittering acid content and quality factors when fungicide applications were ceased at different stages of cone development. The incidence of cones with powdery mildew was linearly correlated with yield of cones, bittering acids and accelerated cone maturation. In cultivar Galena, the cumulative effect of every 1% increase in cones powdery mildew incidence was to reduce alpha‐acid yield by 0·33%, which was due to direct effects on cone yield but also indirect effects mediated by dry matter. In the more susceptible cultivar Zeus, alpha‐acid yield was increased 20% by controlling powdery mildew through the transition of bloom to early cone development compared to ceasing fungicide applications at bloom: additional applications provided only modest improvements in alpha‐acid yield. In both cultivars, the impact of powdery mildew on aroma characteristics and bittering acid content were less substantial than cone yield. The damage caused by powdery mildew to cone colour and alpha‐acid yield, as well as the effectiveness of fungicide applications made to manage the disease, appears inseparably linked to dry matter content of cones at harvest. Realising achievable yield potential in these cultivars requires control of the disease through early stages of cone development and harvest before maturity exceeds c. 25% dry matter.     

Evaluation of anilinopyrimidine and other fungicides for control of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in container-grown Calluna vulgaris

BACKGROUND:Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr.) is a damaging disease affecting container-grown Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. Trials were conducted to test anilinopyrimidine fungicides (pyrimethanil, cyprodinil and mepanipyrim), azoxystrobin and tolylfluanid for crop safety on cultivars, and to evaluate spray programmes based on alternating these fungicides with different modes of action for disease control. Timing and application at different spray intervals were also investigated. RESULTS:Cyprodinil was slightly phytotoxic on only one of the seven cvs tested. Alternating nine-spray programmes of azoxystrobin with an anilinopyrimidine or tolylfluanid, or an anilinopyrimidine with tolylfluanid, with the first spray applied immediately after potting, were equally effective in reducing disease incidence and severity compared with untreated plants. Spray programmes of five or eight sprays, using an anilinopyrimidine and at least one other fungicide with a different mode of action, applied alternately or in blocks of two sprays of the same fungicide and immediately after potting, were equally effective in reducing disease. Omission of early fungicide sprays until 9 weeks after potting and subsequent alternate application of pyrimethanil and tolylfluanid with a different mode of action at 6 week intervals gave reduced disease control. CONCLUSION:There is potential to use spray programmes based on alternating anilinopyrimidines with fungicides with a different mode of action to provide effective control of B. cinerea on C. vulgaris.     

A standardised method for the quantitative analysis of resistance to grapevine powdery mildew

Powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe necator is one of the most important diseases affecting grapevine (Vitis vinifera, L.). Control of this pathogen is based on the use of fungicides, which cause environmental damage and increase production costs. A cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to control the disease relies on using resistant varieties. While most V. vinifera cultivars are susceptible to powdery mildew, several species belonging to the Vitaceae have been described as resistant. Several loci for resistance to grapevine powdery mildew have been identified through genetic analysis of segregating populations derived from different resistance sources. Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) with minor effects on the resistance may prove valuable in a strategy of pyramiding, which aims at increasing the durability of the resistance. However, current methods for evaluation of resistance either do not take into account quantitative variations, or, if they do, are not adapted to large sample sets. Here we develop a method for the analysis of quantitative resistance to grapevine powdery mildew in large populations. We devised a semi-quantitative resistance scale and confirmed the usefulness of a cell counter to quantify sporulation. We compared three inoculation methods and identified dry inoculation using a settling tower as the one giving the best infection. Finally, we confirmed the value of the method by applying it to a set of plants segregating for resistance to E. necator. Using the method described here for the quantitative analysis of the resistance to powdery mildew will prove valuable for breeding for durable resistance.     

Combining sanitation and disease modelling for control of grapevine powdery mildew

Chasmothecia of Erysiphe necator form in one season, survive winter and discharge ascospores that cause primary infections and trigger powdery mildew epidemics in the next season. A strategy for powdery mildew control was developed based on (i) the reduction in overwintering chasmothecia and on (ii) spring fungicide applications to control ascosporic infections timed based on estimate risk (two to five sprays per season). Several fungicides, the hyperparasite Ampelomyces quisqualis, and a mineral oil product were first tested as separate applications in a greenhouse and in vineyards. In the greenhouse, A. quisqualis suppressed chasmothecia formation by 41 %; fungicides and mineral oil suppressed chasmothecia formation by 63 % and ascospore viability by 71 %. In vineyards, application of boscalid + kresoxim-methyl or meptyldinocap once after harvest, as well as application of A. quisqualis pre- and post-harvest, delayed disease onset and epidemic development in the following season by 1 to 3 weeks and lowered disease severity (up to the pea-sized berry stage) by 56 to 63 %. Risk-based applications of sulphur and of synthetic fungicides provided the same control as the grower spray program but required fewer applications (average reduction of 47 %). Sanitation strategies were then tested by combining products and application times (late-season, and/or pre-bud break, and/or spring). Adequate disease control with a reduced number of sprays was achieved with the following combination: two applications of A. quisqualis (pre- and post-harvest), one application of mineral oil before bud break, and model-based applications of sulphur fungicides between bud break and fruit set.     

Comparative efficacy of strobilurin fungicides against downy mildew disease of pearl millet

Three commercial formulations of strobilurins, viz., azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and trifloxystrobin were evaluated for their efficacy against pearl millet downy mildew disease caused by Sclerospora graminicola. In vitro studies revealed inhibition of S. graminicola sporulation, zoospore release, and zoospore motility at 0.1-2 μg ml⁻¹ of all the three fungicides. The fungicides were evaluated for phytotoxic effects on seed quality parameters and for their effectiveness against downy mildew disease by treating pearl millet by: (1) seed dressing, (2) seed dressing followed by foliar spray, and (3) also by foliar spray alone. The highest non-phytotoxic concentrations of 5, 10, and 10 μg ml⁻¹ for azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, and kresoxim-methyl, respectively, were selected for further studies. Under greenhouse conditions, these fungicides showed varying degrees of protection against downy mildew disease. Among the three fungicides, azoxystrobin proved to be the best by offering disease protection of 66%. Further, seed treatment along with foliar application of these fungicides to diseased plants showed enhanced protection against the disease to 93, 82, and 62% in treatments of azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl and trifloxystrobin respectively. Foliar spray alone provided significant increase in disease protection levels of 91, 79, and 59% in treatments of azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and trifloxystrobin, respectively. Disease curative activity of azoxystrobin was higher compared to trifloxystrobin and kresoxim-methyl. Tested fungicides showed weaker translaminar activity, as the disease inhibition was marginal when applied on adaxial leaf surface. Partial systemic activity of azoxystrobin was evident by root uptake, while trifloxystrobin and kresoxim-methyl showed lack of systemic action in pearl millet. A trend in protection against downy mildew disease similar to greenhouse results was evident in the field trials. Grain yield was significantly increased in all strobilurin fungicide treatments over control and maximum increase in yield of 1673 kg ha⁻¹ was observed in combination treatments of seed treatment and foliar spray with azoxystrobin.     

Dynamics of the response of barley mildew to the use of sterol synthesis inhibitors1

Since 1980, the increase in the use of triazole fungicides to control Erysiphe graminis on barley in the UK has been accompanied by an increase in the frequency of pathogen isolates with different levels of reduced sensitivity to the fungicides. In each year, the rate of change varied, probably in relation to the degree of selection at different times in the host life cycle. In the first years, isolates with reduced sensitivity were less pathogenic than sensitive strains on a range of host cultivars. These differences were less obvious on cultivars with the Mla6 and Mlv resistance genes. More recently, reduced sensitivity has become widespread in the pathogen population and the general pathogenicity of this part of the population has increased. As a result, the yield benefit previously associated with mildew control by the triazoles is becoming severely diminished. This effect is not due primarily to the increase of highly insensitive isolates, but to the high frequency of isolates with intermediate insensitivity that are able to cause epidemic increase of the pathogen soon after fungicide application.     

Ray blight of pyrethrum in Australia: a review of the current status and future opportunities

Ray blight caused by Stagonosporopsis tanaceti is one of the most important diseases of pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium), a perennial herbaceous plant cultivated for the extraction of insecticidal pyrethrins in Australia. The disease is responsible for complete yield loss in severe outbreaks. Infected seed is considered as the principal source of S. tanaceti. Infection hyphae remain only in the seed coat and not in the embryo, resulting in pre- and post-emergence death of seedlings and latent infection. Therefore, quantification of the level of infection by S. tanaceti within seed using a qPCR assay is important for efficient management of the disease. Stagonosporopsis tanaceti completes its life cycle within 12 days after leaf infection through production of pycnidia and can infect every tissue of the pyrethrum plant except the vascular and root tissues. Ray blight epidemics occur in pyrethrum fields through splash dispersal of pycnidiospores between adjacent plants. Besides steam sterilization, thiabendazole/thiram and fludioxonil are effective seed-treating chemicals in controlling S. tanaceti before planting begins. Ray blight is currently managed in the field through the foliar application of strobilurin fungicides in the first 1–2 years of crop establishment. Later on, difenoconazole and multisite specific fungicides in the next 2–3 years during early spring successfully reduce ray blight infestation. Avoiding development of resistance to fungicides will require more sustainable management of ray blight including the development and deployment of resistant cultivars.     

The epidemiology of powdery mildew on concord grapes

ABSTRACT Vitis labruscana 'Concord' is a grape cultivar widely grown in the United States for processing into juice and other grape products. Concord grapes are sporadically but sometimes severely damaged by the grape powdery mildew pathogen, Uncinula necator. Although the foliage is often reported to be moderately resistant to powdery mildew, severe fruit infection occurs in some years. We observed the seasonal development of powdery mildew on leaves, rachises, and berries of unsprayed Concord grapevines. Inoculations of flower and fruit clusters revealed a brief period of berry susceptibility and a protracted period of rachis susceptibility. The rachis remained highly susceptible to infection, and the severity of rachis infection increased throughout the growing season until the rachis formed a periderm shortly before harvest. In contrast, berries were nearly immune to infection within 2 weeks after fruit set. Rachis and berry infections were detected before the disease was observed on foliage, and the incidence of rachis and berry infection often exceeded disease incidence observed on foliage until after fruit acquired substantial ontogenic resistance. Excellent control of fruit infection, and adequate control of leaf infection, was achieved by two fungicide applications targeted at the peak period of fruit susceptibility. Although Concord is thought to be moderately resistant to powdery mildew, the rachis is highly susceptible, and may be the avenue by which prebloom infections make their way onto the developing fruit. Late-season infection of the rachis neither spread to the fruit, nor did it cause fruit to drop prematurely, and may be of little economic consequence on fruit destined for processing. Although fruit of V. vinifera cultivars have been reported to remain susceptible to infection until berry sugar levels reach 8 to 15%, Concord fruit become nearly immune to infection nearly 6 weeks before this stage of development. Because powdery mildew does not become conspicuous on foliage until late summer, it is generally regarded as a late-season problem on Concord grapes, and previous management programs have reflected this belief. However, the greatest contribution to control of fruit infection is due to fungicides applied during the peak period of fruit susceptibility, from bloom until shortly after fruit set, long before the disease is observed on foliage.     

Joint action of fungicides in Mixtures: Theory and practice

Fungicide mixtures aimed at the control of multiple target organisms have been used since the middle of this century. In the 1970s synergistic mixtures of site-specific (high resistance-risk) fungicides with multi-site (low resistance-risk) fungicides became available with the aim to provide adequate disease control while maximizing evolutionary problems for the pathogen. In the 1980s there were introduced mixtures of negatively correlated fungicides, in which each ingredient is capable of controlling pathogen genotypes resistant to the other ingredient. Such fungicides are currently deployed in the form of homogeneous mixtures (tank mixes, prepacked mixtures). A new strategy is under development in which different fungicides are applied to different adjacent plants. Diversification of cultivars and fungicides in a crop may minimize the buildup of resistance and maximize disease control.     

Effect of Fungicide Application on Cereals in France1

Fungicide use is rapidly increasing on cereal crops in France: 40 % of the area (3 million ha) was treated at least once in 1980. The yield increases due to these treatments are sometimes very large (up to 1.5 or 2 tonne/ha), but are also very variable. Rational use of fungicides is therefore only possible if reliable practical methods are developed for the farmers. Research in France since 1971 has led to the development of a risk assessment table for the north of France based on the disease status of the crops and on the conditions of its cultivation. Current research seeks to improve this table by bringing climatic factors into account. Models for forecasting disease are currently being examined (Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides) and a control strategy is proposed. It is envisaged that, with the development of improved forecasting models for the major diseases, it will be possible to predict, and to account for, the effects of fungicides on yield.     

The effect of powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei) and leaf rust (Puccinia hordei) on spring barley in New Zealand. I. Epidemic development, green leaf area and yield

Powdery mildew and leaf rust caused large yield losses in spring barley grown near Christchurch, New-Zealand, in two seasons. Disease present during early growth stages was as damaging to yield as disease late in the season. Moderate leaf rust severities after anthesis were most damaging when combined with earlier mildew epidemics. Later growth did not compensate for reduced yield potential induced by early infection. This was attributed, at least in part, to an effect on leaf size, and therefore on green leaf area, at later growth stages. There was a closer relationship, by regression analysis, of yield to green leaf area than to disease severity in three cultivars.
The three cultivars. which differed in yield potential and disease resistance, were not equally sensitive to disease. It is proposed that high yielding cultivars may be the most sensitive to yield constraint by disease.