Disease progress of non‐specialised fungal pathogens in intraspecific mixed stands of cereal cultivars. II. Field experiments

Abstract

SUMMARY Epidemic development of Septoria nodorum was examined in pure stands and mixtures of two spring wheat cultivars, Kolibri and Maris Butler. In mixtures, disease development was reduced almost to that of the more resistant pure stand (Maris Butler). Disease levels, however, were low and no significant differences in grain yield per head were demonstrated. Disease development was further investigated for the host‐pathogen combinations winter wheat/ S. nodorum and winter barley/ Rhynchosporium secalis . With both combinations the mixed stands again reduced disease levels to almost that of the more resistant pure stands. In general, mixed stands were more effective against R. secalis , although, with S. nodorum , disease levels were low. The yield response in mixed stands differed for the host cultivars and was not significantly changed by the presence of disease. The complexity of analysing such situations and the implications of these findings for mixtures of cultivars differing in resistance to non‐specialised pathogens are discussed.