The effect of leaf rust (Puccinia hordei) on yield response in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crops with different yield potentials

The effect of leaf rust was investigated on field-grown crops, in two consecutive seasons, each at a single location, using a non-replicated design. The experiments involved three crops and 10 distinct epidemics in the 1987/8 season, and four crops with seven epidemics in the 1988/9 season. The epidemics were concurrent in each season in subplots within each crop, and the yield range was from 2.2–9.0 t ha⁻¹ in nil-diseased plots. Variation in the experiments, assessed as the percentage coefficient of variation, was in the same range as similar, but replicated, experiments with fewer treatment combinations. Early sowing and high agronomic inputs were associated with greater leaf areas, green area durations and yields than in comparable crops sown later or with lower inputs. Disease intensity was described both by per cent disease severity and by the effect on green area. Disease reduced yield mostly via reduced number of fertile ears (mean 31% for all crops) and grain weight (21% mean reduction). Reductions in these components were greater in the 1987/8 season than in the 1988/9 season, but there was no consistent effect associated with yield potential. The number of grains per ear was affected much less (2.5% mean for all crops) than the other components. There was little evidence for compensation between yield components.