Analysis of Virulence in Populations of Wheat Powdery Mildew in Europe

Abstract

Abstract Random samples of spores of wheat powdery mildew were collected from the atmosphere by means of a jet spore sampler while driving through selected wheat growing areas in Europe in 1986. Their single colony progenies were tested in the laboratory forvirulence against wheat differential varieties with powdery mildew resistances Pm2, Pm4b, Pm8, Mli and the combinations Pm2+Pm6, Pm4b+Pm8 and Pm2+Pm4b+Pm8. There were regional differences in virulence frequencies. Virulence on Pm2, Pm2+Pm6 and, less expressed, on Pm4b was most frequent in England and decreased mainly to the east, whereas the reverse was true for Pm8. Virulence to Mli was generally high, and to the combined genotypes generally low. The results suggest that large parts of Europe are an epidemiological unit. The data are discussed with respect to selection caused by the varieties grown, as well as to the influence of wind distribution on the composition of the pathogen population.