Antagonism Between the Cereal Root Rot Pathogens Fusarium graminearum and Bipolaris sorokiniana. S. C. Scardaci, Farm Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Davis 95616. R. K. Webster, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California. Plant Dis. 65:965-967. Accepted for publication 20 March 1981. Copyright 1981 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-965.

Antagonism between Fusarium graminearum and Bipolaris sorokiniana occurred when both were infested simultaneously on barley, resulting in lower levels of seedling blight and root rot. Both pathogens competed equally well for host substrate when infested together at planting. However, when they were infested in sequence, one 21 days before the other, the pathogen infested first was reisolated most frequently, indicating the importance of prior colonization and possession of substrate.