Control of Cephalosporium Stripe of Winter Wheat by Liming. Timothy D. Murray, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6430. C. C. Walter, and J. C. Anderegg. Agricultural Research Technologist, and Former Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6430. Plant Dis. 76:282-286. Accepted for publication 9 September 1991. Copyright 1992 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-76-0282.

In two out of 4 yr of field testing, the incidence of Cephalosporium stripe (percent infected stems), caused by Cephalosporium gramineum, decreased significantly (P = 0.05) when calcium hydroxide was added to increase soil pH from 5.1–5.3 to >6.0, and increased significantly when sulfuric acid was added to lower soil pH to 4.5; the relationship was linear in both years. In a third year, there was a nearly significant (P = 0.07) linear trend for decreasing incidence of disease with increasing soil pH. Disease severity, which reflects the extent of suscept colonization, was not influenced by soil pH or cultivar in any year. Grain yield and test weight increased significantly with increasing soil pH in three out of the 4 yr. The relationship of yield and test weight to soil pH was significantly linear in 2 yr and cubic in the third year. Cultivars differed significantly for disease incidence, yield, and test weight, but interactions between soil pH and cultivar for disease incidence and yield were not significant in any year. A significant interaction between soil pH and cultivar for test weight occurred in one out of 3 yr. Liming for control of Cephalosporium stripe will probably be most valuable in years when root wounding resulting from frozen soil is relatively minor.