VIEW ARTICLE

Etiology

The Incidence of Septoria nodorum in Wheat Seed. Barry M. Cunfer, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Georgia Station, Experiment, GA 30212; Phytopathology 68:832-835. Accepted for publication 29 November 1977. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-832.

Wheat seed from six locations in Georgia was 0-59% infected with Septoria nodorum. Average incidence of infection from all samples was 10.7 and 9.4% for each of two index years. Shriveled and medium-sized seed had the highest percentage infection, but plump well-filled seed also had 8.1% infection during 2 yr. Differences in seed infection among the eight cultivars tested paralleled field ratings of earlier studies for susceptibility to glume blotch. Seed size and infection by S. nodorum had no effect on seed germination. Seed infection was least in the mountain region of Georgia and greatest toward the southern part of the state. Foliar application of captafol and mancozeb fungicides reduced seed infection. Selective use of foliar and/or seed treatment fungicides and growing site may be a means for reducing seedborne S. nodorum in certified seed production.