#Blight definition destiny trial#

#Blight definition destiny trial#

The trial was set up as a split plot design with 2 replicates of each cropping sequence in the final year. From 1990-1993, field peas (P) and barley (B) were sown at the site in eight different cropping sequences (PPPP, PPPB, PPBP, PPBB, PBPP, PBPB, PBBP and PBBB) in order to generate different populations of soil-borne ascochyta blight fungi prior to sowing field peas in 1994. The site had previously been cropped to field peas in 1987, wheat in 1988 and barley in 1989. Materials and methods Field trialĪn experimental site was established at Tarranyurk (sandy loam soil, pH 7.8 in H 2O), in the northern Wimmera region of Victoria, to monitor changes in the populations of soil-borne ascochyta blight fungi following different cropping sequences. Results of these studies will provide pea growers with information on the effectiveness of crop rotation in reducing the level of soil-borne ascochyta blight fungi and establish guidelines for the minimum interval required between successive pea crops. These studies were undertaken to determine the effect of different cropping sequences on the survival of ascochyta blight fungi in soil and to establish the effect of different levels of soil-borne inoculum on the grain yield of field peas. Both pathogens can survive in soil as chlamydospores for several years (3), which may also be important in perennation of the disease. The importance of wind-borne ascospores released from pea stubble in establishing the disease in new crops is well-documented (1), however the importance of soil-borne inoculum under Australian conditions is unclear. Studies by Davidson and Ramsey (3) showed that the decline in field pea yields reported by Peck and McDonald (5) was often associated with increased levels of ascochyta blight in pea crops. pinodella (Jones) Boerema, is the most important disease of field peas in southern Australia. IntroductionĪscochyta blight caused by Mycosphaerella pinodes (Berk. To minimise crop losses there should be a period of at least 3 years between successive pea crops.Īscochyta blight, field pea, disease control, crop rotation. The grain yields of field peas in 1994 showed there was a strong correlation (R 2 = 0.91) between the level of soil-borne ascochyta blight fungi and decline in yield. The most probable number of fungal propagules ranged from 676 in plots sown to barley for three successive years to 8449 in plots sown to field peas every year. By June 1994, there were large differences between plots in the number of ascochyta blight fungi per gram of soil. From 1990-1993, field peas (P) and barley (B) were sown at the site in eight different cropping sequences (PPPP, PPPB, PPBP, PPBB, PBPP, PBPB, PBBP and PBBB) in order to generate different populations of soil-borne ascochyta blight fungi. Agriculture Victoria – Horsham, Victorian Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Horsham, Victoria.Īn experimental site was established at Tarranyurk (sandy loam soil, pH 7.8 in H 2O), in the northern Wimmera region of Victoria, to monitor changes in the populations of soil-borne ascochyta blight fungi following different cropping sequences.