Evaluation of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Infection of Wheat Heads

The incidence of wheat head infection by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), the etiological agent of tan spot disease, was evaluated during grain development in a glasshouse experiment. Heads artificially inoculated with a Ptr spore suspension developed widespread brown spots across the spikelets,...

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Main Authors: See, Pao Theen, Schultz, Nikki, Moffat, Caroline
Format: Journal Article
Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2020
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88119
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author See, Pao Theen
Schultz, Nikki
Moffat, Caroline
author_facet See, Pao Theen
Schultz, Nikki
Moffat, Caroline
author_sort See, Pao Theen
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The incidence of wheat head infection by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), the etiological agent of tan spot disease, was evaluated during grain development in a glasshouse experiment. Heads artificially inoculated with a Ptr spore suspension developed widespread brown spots across the spikelets, and mycelia and conidophores were observed on glumes and awns. Seeds of heavily infected heads were darkened and shrivelled, but no red smudge symptoms were apparent. The recovery rate of Ptr isolates from the inoculated wheat heads was low, and colonies that were re-isolated displayed an irregular morphology with reddish mycelia when grown on agar plates. The presence of Ptr on inoculated wheat heads was assessed directly via PCR detection, and a limitation of Ptr hyphae to proliferate beyond the point of contact of spore inoculum on floret tissues was observed. The systemic transmission of Ptr from infected seeds was minimal; however, saprophytic growth of the pathogen occurred on the senescing leaves of wheat plants grown from inoculated seeds. Thus, even though Ptr seed infection is not as common as foliar infection, infected seeds are still a source of disease inoculum and screening for pathogen contamination is advisable.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-881192022-03-28T01:11:58Z Evaluation of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Infection of Wheat Heads See, Pao Theen Schultz, Nikki Moffat, Caroline The incidence of wheat head infection by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), the etiological agent of tan spot disease, was evaluated during grain development in a glasshouse experiment. Heads artificially inoculated with a Ptr spore suspension developed widespread brown spots across the spikelets, and mycelia and conidophores were observed on glumes and awns. Seeds of heavily infected heads were darkened and shrivelled, but no red smudge symptoms were apparent. The recovery rate of Ptr isolates from the inoculated wheat heads was low, and colonies that were re-isolated displayed an irregular morphology with reddish mycelia when grown on agar plates. The presence of Ptr on inoculated wheat heads was assessed directly via PCR detection, and a limitation of Ptr hyphae to proliferate beyond the point of contact of spore inoculum on floret tissues was observed. The systemic transmission of Ptr from infected seeds was minimal; however, saprophytic growth of the pathogen occurred on the senescing leaves of wheat plants grown from inoculated seeds. Thus, even though Ptr seed infection is not as common as foliar infection, infected seeds are still a source of disease inoculum and screening for pathogen contamination is advisable. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88119 10.3390/agriculture10090417 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute fulltext
spellingShingle See, Pao Theen
Schultz, Nikki
Moffat, Caroline
Evaluation of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Infection of Wheat Heads
title Evaluation of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Infection of Wheat Heads
title_full Evaluation of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Infection of Wheat Heads
title_fullStr Evaluation of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Infection of Wheat Heads
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Infection of Wheat Heads
title_short Evaluation of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Infection of Wheat Heads
title_sort evaluation of pyrenophora tritici-repentis infection of wheat heads
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88119