VIEW ARTICLE

Ecology and Epidemiology

Cochliobolus sativus Conidia Populations in Soils Following Various Cereal Crops. S. H. F. Chinn, Research Scientist, Research Station, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, 107 Science Crescent, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X2; Phytopathology 66:1082-1084. Accepted for publication 17 February 1976. Copyright © 1976 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-66-1082.

The effect of 12 cultivars of various cereal crops on numbers of conidia of Cochliobolus sativus in row soil adjacent to and incorporated with the stubble was investigated. Experiments were conducted at two locations in Saskatchewan and conidial populations were determined by the flotation-viability method. The largest number of conidia was found after cropping with barley, followed by two cultivars of wheat (Lake and Neepawa) and then five other cultivars of wheat and Prolific rye. Lowest populations occurred after cropping with the two cultivars of oats. Nevertheless, this study indicated that oats, even though considered to be highly resistant to the pathogen, contributed a significant number of C. sativus conidia to the soil and thus is not desirable in a rotation for the purpose of controlling common root rot of cereals caused by C. sativus.