Survival of Gaeumannomyces Graminis Var. Tritici in the Field Soil Stored In Controlled Environments

Abstract

A bioassay was used to study the effect of various storage treatments on the survival of G. graminis var. tritici in soil cores removed from a take-all patch. There was no significant change in the incidence of the fungus when the soil was maintained either dry (-250 to -980 bars) and cool (15°C), or moist (-4'0 to -7,0 bars) and cool (15°C). When maintained very dry (-980 bars or less) and hot (35°C) or wet (-0'1 to -0,2 bar) and cool (15°C) there was a significant reduction in disease incidence, but considerable levels of viable fungus were still present after 45 weeks storage. Only in wet hot soil (-0'1 to -0,2 bar and 35°C) was the fungus eliminated rapidly.