Winter and Early Spring Survival of Puccinia recondita on Kansas Wheat During 1980–1986. M. G. Eversmeyer, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506. C. L. Kramer, and L. E. Browder. Professor, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan; and Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan. Plant Dis. 72:1074-1076. Accepted for publication 1 August 1988. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1988. DOI: 10.1094/PD-72-1074.

Puccinia recondita survived the winter and early spring in wheat plots at Manhattan, Kansas, in 4 of 7 yr during 1980–1986. Biweekly winter and spring observations of uredinia were recorded. During winter periods in which no uredinia were observed, plants were transplanted into the greenhouse at intervals to allow for development of latent infections. In 1982, 1983, and 1986, uredinia survived on late-planted wheat (October), but in 1985, uredinia survived on early-planted wheat (August and September). P. recondita survived on both early- and late-planted wheat in 1986. Losses of less than 2.0% occurred in years with no fungal survival in any of the date-of-planting plots, whereas losses were greater than 2.0% when the fungus did survive the winter and early spring or at least one date-of-planting. Although maximum disease severities may have been identical, losses were greater in years in which P. recondita survived than in years in which it did not. This was due to maximum severities being reached up to 2 wk earlier in plots where survival occurred. Pathogenicity of surviving inoculum may be very different from pathogenicity of airborne inoculum being deposited on the plot.

Keyword(s): inoculum survival, leaf rust, overwintering, Triticum aestivum, yield losses.