Reactions of Italian Triticum durum Cultivars to Soilborne Wheat Mosaic. V. Vallega, Section of Applied Genetics, Istituto Sperimentale per la Cerealicoltura, Via Cassia 176, 00191 Roma, Italy. C. Rubies Autonell, Istituto di Patologia Vegetale, Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, 40100 Bologna, Italy. Plant Dis. 69:64-66. Accepted for publication 19 June 1984. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-64.

The presence of soilborne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV) in durum wheats (Triticum durum) in Central Italy is reported. The most widely grown durum cultivars in Italy are resistant to SBWM, but many of the new, higher-yielding, semidwarf types were found extremely susceptible. Yield losses as high as 70% have been estimated in the more susceptible cultivars. Grain number per square meter (51%) rather than kernel weight (8%) reductions accounted for most of the yield reduction. SBWM also affected test weight, plant height, and weediness. Visual disease assessments made very early in the season were highly correlated with losses, but some cultivars appeared to possess efficient 'tolerance' mechanisms.