Incidence of Septoria nodorum in Wheat Seed and Its Effects on Plant Growth and Grain Yield. M. Babadoost, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27650. T. T. Hebert, Professor Emeritus, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27650. Plant Dis. 68:125-129. Accepted for publication 8 August 1983. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-125.

Septoria nodorum was found in 98.5% of wheat seed samples in North Carolina. Infected seed gave rise to seedlings with infected coleoptiles, which resulted in significant reduction in seedling growth and grain yield. Pycnidia developed in diseased coleoptiles shortly after seed was planted in the fall and on the lower leaves in the spring. The fungus survived and remained virulent in stored seed for more than 2 yr. There was no correlation between percent seed infection and percent germination. This study indicated that seed infected by S. nodorum could play an important role in epidemics of glume blotch.

Keyword(s): Leptosphaeria nodorum, Triticum aestivum.