MANAGEMENT AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE DISEASES OF SMALL GRAINS

• Sponsoring Institution: State Agricultural Experiment Station
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1006870
• Project Start Date: Jul 1, 2015
• Project End Date: Jun 30, 2020
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MINNESOTA
(N/A)
ST PAUL,MN 55108

Performing Department
Plant Pathology

Non Technical Summary
This project aims to develop effective disease control strategies for wheat, barley and oat and thereby reduce yield and quality losses for small grains producers in Minnesota. The project will be directed both to ongoing research efforts on Fusarium head blight of wheat and barley and to the other diseases, principally Bacterial leaf streak. Fusarium head blight of wheat and barley remains a major limiting factor to small grains production in the Upper Midwest. Bacterial Leaf Streak, caused by Xanthomonas translucens, has recently become prevalent in Minnesota. Managing BLS is difficult due to the lack of resistant cultivars and other effective tools and understanding of the epidemiology of BLS is still limited. Specific objectives are: 1) to provide support to the wheat, barley and oat breeding programs as part of ongoing efforts to develop germplasm with improved resistance to biotic diseases. The evaluation of breeding lines from the wheat and barley improvement programs for resistance to FHB will be conducted in uniform, inoculated and mist-irrigated field nurseries. This project will also support efforts in field screening breeding material in the wheat and barley programs to BLS. Screening of barley germplasm to net form-net blotch will be conducted in greenhouse tests and in an inoculated dryland nursery at Crookston. My lab provides support to other pathology projects, including Carol Ishimaru's BLS field experiments and Melania Figueroa's proposed oat crown rust and loose smut research. Evaluations of disease in naturally infected field sites, e.g. for powdery mildew of wheat and barley, will be conducted where opportunities arise; 2) To examine the epidemiology of the diseases of small grains and utilize this knowledge in the development of effective disease control options. Emphasis will be placed on research aimed at the control of the diseases of greatest impact on commercial wheat, barley and oat production. Disease management will be achieved through improving our understanding of the epidemiology of the diseases and developing management options; primarily the use of host resistance but also utilizing cultural, chemical and biological control practices, as appropriate; and 3) to contribute to the education of graduate students.

Animal Health Component

70%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

70%

Developmental

20%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
212	1541	1160	40%
212	1540	1160	10%
212	1550	1160	40%
212	1560	1160	10%

Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
1550 - Barley; 1560 - Oats; 1540 - Hard red winter wheat; 1541 - Hard red spring wheat;

Field Of Science
1160 - Pathology;

Keywords

wheat

barley

oat

cereals

small grains

fusarium head blight

bacterial leaf streak

mycotoxins

host resistance

cultural control

fungicides

Goals / Objectives
This project aims to aid in the development of effective disease control strategies for wheat, barley and oat and thereby reduced yield and quality losses for small grains producers in Minnesota.Specific objectives include:1. To provide support to the wheat, barley and oat breeding programs as part of ongoing efforts to develop germplasm with improved resistance to biotic diseases.2. To examine the epidemiology of the diseases of small grains and utilize this knowledge in the development of effective disease control options. Emphasis will be placed on research aimed at the control of the foliar diseases of greatest impact on commercial wheat, barley and oat production. Disease management will be achieved through improving our understanding of the epidemiology of the diseases and developing management options utilizing cultural, chemical and biological control practices as appropriate.3. To contribute to the education of graduate students.

Project Methods
Methods:Objective 1: The program will provide support to the small grains breeding programs as part of ongoing efforts to develop germplasm with improved resistance to biotic diseases.Support will be provided to the University of Minneosta wheat, barley and oat breeding programs. We anticipate screening wheat and barely breeding germplasm for resistance to FHB and BLS, oat to loose smut and barley to net blotch in inoculated nurseries. Evaluations of disease in naturally infected field sites, (BYDV and powdery mildew of wheat and barley), will also be conducted. Testing of the resistance to other diseases including tan spot of wheat, leaf rust of barley, barley yellow dwarf virus of wheat and barley (BYDV) may be conducted in inoculated nurseries as necessary.IObjective 2. Examine the epidemiology of the diseases of small grains and utilize this knowledge in the development of effective disease control options.Studies will be established to examine the development of FHB epidemics in relation to weather patterns (rainfall/irrigation, humidity, temperature). In FHB studies the production of mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), will also be examined.Annual monitoring of the diseases of small grains prevalent in Minnesota's small grains production fields will be continued to ensure that the project focus remains on those diseases of economic importance.Objective 2a. To examine fungicide and cultivar resistance as complementary management approaches to provide better control of FHB and DON than either approach alone. In this objective we will examine the integrated effects of fungicide and genetic resistance on FHB and DON in hard red spring (HRS) wheat and spring barley, with emphasis on different application timings and new genotypes.Two experiments (HRS wheat and spring barley) are planned for each of three years. Each experiment will include three cultivars with different levels of resistance to FHB and six fungicide treatments. The experimental design used will be a randomized complete block (4 reps), with a split-plot arrangement of cultivar as the whole-plot and fungicide treatment as the sub-plot. FHB incidence and severity, DON, visually scabby kernels (VSK, wheat only), yield, and test weight data will be collected in each trial. FHB severity will be determined visually, and FHB incidence and FHB index calculated. The presence and severity of any foliar diseases will also be determined. Plots will be harvested and yield and test weight determined. Grain samples from each plot will be submitted for DON analysis. Onsite weather stations will be used to collect temperature, relative humidity, surface wetness, rainfall, wind speed, and solar radiation data at regular intervals.Objective 2b. To investigate the specific effects of intermittent moisture during the 7-day pre-anthesis window on FHB and DON.In this objective the effects of pre-anthesis rainfall patterns on the development of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and the accumulation of deoxynivalenol (DON) in harvested grain will be examined.Field experiments will be conducted over three field seasons, using the hard red spring wheat cultivar Samson. Research plots will be managed according to the standard agronomic practices in Minnesota. The experimental design will be a complete randomized design, with four replicates. Four mist-irrigation treatments will be used to influence inoculum production and FHB development.Colonised corn kernels will be used as an in-field source of inoculum. Twenty wheat heads per sub-plot will be collected before, during and after anthesis to quantify F. graminearum CFUs per wheat head under each misting regime. These heads will be washed and the wash water plated on a Fusarium-selective medium. Weather data will be collected from the local meteorological station. FHB index will be evaluated on 20 spikes at each of 5 random locations within each sub-plot. Presence and severity of other diseases will be noted. Plots will be harvested with a plot combine. Yield and VSK (%) will be determined for each plot. A sample of grain from each sub-plot will be ground and sent to one of the USWBSI-funded laboratories for DON analysis.Objective 2c. To examine the influence of foliar fungicides on BLS development.We will undertake field experiments on wheat, examining the impact of fungicide applications on development of BLS. The experiments will include four treatments: inoculated (or not) with X. translucens (BLS) and treated (or not) with Prosaro. We will include between hard red spring wheat cultivars adapted to Minnesota in each year of the study. Plots will be inoculated a using a bacteria suspension of a single isolate of X. translucens pv. undulosa. The inoculum will be applied using a Solo sprayer with carborundum added. Fungicide treatments will consist of Prosaro applied at heading with a tractor-mounted sprayer. Fertilizer and herbicide applications will be made in accordance with standard recommendations for wheat production in Minnesota. BLS will be assessed visually at the soft dough growth stage and the trial will be harvested for yield.Objective 2d. To undertake annual surveys of the diseases of wheat, barley and oats in Minnesota.Annual surveys of production fields and variety evaluation trials will be conducted to establish the distribution, prevalence, and relative importance of the diseases of wheat, barley and oat. Isolates will be collected, isolated, identified and placed in storage in each year of the project.Objective 3. Contribute to the education of graduate students.Graduate student training will be carried out under the overall objectives of this project. Individual thesis research projects will be determined according to the interests of the student in consultation with the advisor and committee members. The suitability of the research and availability of funding will likely also impact the number of students and scope of research work undertaken.

Progress 07/01/15 to 06/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Plant pathologists, plant breeders, geneticists, and extension specialists working on wheat, barley, oats, and other cereal crops. Producers of small grains in Minnesota and the Upper Great Plains. Changes/Problems:The covid pandemic limited the scope of field and laboratory work conducted in 2020, but all project objectives were met. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate student is currently working on thesis research projects supported, in part, by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated to growers through field days, presentations at grower sponsored meetings and the 2020 Prairie Grains Conference. Information on best management practices have also been distributed through the rural media (print and electronic) using the Minnesota variety trials bulletins, websites, and other publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2020 field trials and greenhouse screening experiments were completed to screen wheat and barley breeding germplasm for resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and bacterial leaf streak (BLS). In addition, barley germplasm was screened for resistance to net blotch and oats for resistance to oat smut. For each disease, we were able to identify lines with economically effective levels of resistance. These lines were then promoted by the relevant breeding program for further development thus the release of wheat, barley, and oat cultivars with improved resistance to diseases is due, in part, to the research effort of this project. Studies examining the host range of the bacterial pathogen (Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa), which incites bacterial leaf streak, demonstrated that the pathogen may be found on a number of grass weeds common in and around wheat fields. These findings will be valuable in providing information to wheat producers by encouraging best management practices for disease control.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Anderson, J.A., Wiersma, J.J., Reynolds, S.K., Caspers, R., Linkert, G.L., Kolmer, J.A., Jin, Y., Rouse, M.N., Dill-Macky, R., Smith, M.J., Dykes, L, and Ohm, J.-B. (2019). Registration of Shelly hard red spring wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations, 13:199-206.

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Plant pathologists, plant breeders, geneticists and extension specialists working on wheat, barley, oats and other cereal crops. Producers of small grains in Minnesota and the Upper Great Plains. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate student is currently working on a thesis research project supported, in part, by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated to growers through field days, presentations at grower sponsored meetings and the 2015 Prairie Grains Conference. Information on best management practices have also been distributed through the rural media (print and electronic) using variety trials bulletins and other publications including the ScabSmart website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We intend to continue research on the project objectives as outlined in the original proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2019 field trials and greenhouse screening experiments were completed to screen wheat and barley breeding germplasm for resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and bacterial leaf streak (BLS). In addition, barley germplasm was screened for resistance to net blotch and oats for resistance to oat smut. For each disease we were able to identify lines with economically effective levels of resistance. These lines were then promoted by the relevant breeding program for further development thus the release of wheat, barley and oat cultivars with improved resistance to diseases is due, in part, to the research effort of this project. We have examined the role of grasses as alternative hosts for Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) - the bacterium that causes BLS of wheat) and have found that the pathogen is present on a range of annual and perennial grasses. Perennial hosts have the potential to provide a reservoir of inoculum between growing seasons. This finding provides information relevant to the management practices for BLS.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Bajgain, P., Zhang, X., Turner, M. K., Curland, R. D., Heim, B., Dill-Macky, R., Ishimaru, C.I., and Anderson, J. A. 2019. Characterization of Genetic Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight and Bacterial Leaf Streak in Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). Agronomy 9, 429; doi:10.3390/agronomy9080429.

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Plant pathologists, plant breeders, geneticists and extension specialists working on wheat, barley, oats and other cereal crops. Producers of small grains in Minnesota and the Upper Great Plains. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate student is currently working on a thesis research project supported, in part, by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated to growers through field days, presentations at grower sponsored meetings and the 2018 Prairie Grains Conference. Information on best managment practices have also been distributed through the rural media (print and electronic) using variety trials bulletins and other publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We intend to continue research on the project objectives as outlined in the original proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2018 greenhouse and field screening of wheat and barley breeding germplasm for resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) and bacterial leaf streak (BLS) was undertaken at multiple locations throughout the state. In addition germplasm was evaluated for resistance to net blotch of barley and loose smut of oat. For all of these disease we were able to identify lines with effective resistance. The differences among commercially available varieties was conveyed to producers to aid in varietal selection along with best managment practices for reducing disease risk. Germplasm (advanced lines and sources of resistance), identified as being more resistant to these diseases were promoted by the breeding programs with whom we collaborate. Thus the release of wheat, barley and oat cultivars with improved resistance to diseases is due, in part, to the research efforts of this project In 2018 we continued our work examining the role that wild grasses and other grass hosts play in the epidemiology of BLS in Minnesota. We utilized a collection of Xanthomonas translucens isolates collected from the weed hosts to conduct a molecular analysis of the diversity of the pathogen. Sequence data from four loci (rpoD, dnaK, fyuA, gyrB) was generated for 105 Xanthomonas translucens isolates originating from quackgrass, wild oat, foxtail barley, perennial ryegrass, green foxtail, smooth bromegrass, cultivated wild rice, intermediate wheatgrass, barley, and wheat. A phylogeny of these isolates was constructed using multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) and used in corroboration with greenhouse seedling assays to identify the isolates to pathovar level. All isolates originating on cultivated wild rice, intermediate wheatgrass, wheat, and weedy grasses, except smooth bromegrass, were identified as X. translucens pv. undulosa. All isolates originating on smooth bromegrass were identified as X. translucens pv. cerealis and all isolates originating on barley were identified as X. translucens pv. translucens. The results of this work suggest that there are several distinct subpopulations of the pathogen and that only some of the grass weed species examined serve as alternative hosts for the BLS pathogen populations that infects wheat.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Anderson, J.A., Wiersma, J.J., Linkert, G.L., Reynolds, S.K., Kolmer, J.A., Jin, Y., Rouse M., Dill-Macky, R., Smith, M.J., Hareland G.A., and Ohm, J.-B. (2018). Registration of Bolles hard red spring wheat with high grain protein concentration and superior baking quality. Journal of Plant Registrations, 12:215-221.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Anderson, J.A., Wiersma, J.J., Linkert, G.L., Reynolds, S.K., Kolmer, J.A., Jin, Y., Rouse M., Dill-Macky, R., Hareland G.A., and Ohm, J.-B. (2018). Registration of Linkert spring wheat with good straw strength and adult plant resistance to the Ug99 family of stem rust races. Journal of Plant Registrations, 12:208-214.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Plant pathologists, plant breeders, geneticists and extension specialists working on wheat, barley, oats and other cereal crops. Producers of small grains in Minnesota and the Upper Great Plains. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate student is currently working on a thesis research project supported, in part, by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated to growers through field days, presentations at grower sponsored meetings and the 2015 Prairie Grains Conference. Information on best managment practices have also been distributed through the rural media (print and electronic) using variety trials bulletins and other publications including the ScabSmart website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We intend to continue research on the project objectives as outlined in the original proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2017 field trials and greenhouse screening experiments were completed to screen wheat and barley breeding germplasm for resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) and bacterial leaf streak (BLS). In addition, barley germplasm was screened for resisatnce to net blotch and oats for resistance to oat smut. For each disease we were able to identify lines with economically effective levels of resistance. These lines were then promoted by the relevant breeding program for further development thus the release of wheat, barley and oat cultivars with improved resistance to diseases is due, in part, to the research effort of this project. Studies examining the host range of the bacterial pathogen (Xanthomonas translucens), which incites bacterial leaf streak, demonstrated that the pathogen may be found on a number of grass weeds common in and around wheat fields. These findings will be valuable in providing information to wheat producers by encouraging best management practices for disease control.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: J.A. Anderson, J.J. Wiersma, G.L. Linkert, S.K. Reynolds, J.A. Kolmer, Y. Jin, M. Rouse, R. Dill-Macky, G.A. Hareland and J.-B. Ohm. (2017) Registration of Norden Hard Red Spring Wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations (doi:10.3198/jpr2017.07.0045crc)

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Plant pathologists, plant breeders, geneticists and extension specialists working on wheat, barley, oats and other cereal crops. Producers of small grains in Minnesota and the Upper Great Plains. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two graduate students are currently working on thesis research projects supported, in part, by this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated to growers through field days, presentations at grower sponsored meetings and the 2015 Prairie Grains Conference. Information on best managment practices have also been distributed through the rural media (print and electronic) using variety trials bulletins and other publications including the ScabSmart website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We intend to continue research on the project objectives as outlined in the original proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2016 we conducted a field surveys to examine the distribution of foliar and soilborne diseases in commercial wheat, barley and oat fields in Minnesota. Bacterial Leaf Streak (BLS) and Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) were observed in many wheat fields. Fusarium Crown Rot (FCR) was identified as the most prevalent root disease of wheat in the state. Common root rot was also observed, though at lower levels than FCR. Field screening of wheat and barley breeding germplasm for resistance to FHB and bacterial leaf streak was undertaken at multiple locations throughout the state. In addition germplasm was evaluated for resistance to net blotch of barley and loose smut of oat. For all of these diseases we were able to identify lines with effective resistance. The differences among commercially available varieties was conveyed to extension personnel, crop advisors and grain producers to aid in varietal selection along with best managment practices for reducing disease risk. Germplasm (advanced lines and sources of resistance), identified as being more resistant to these diseases were promoted by the breeding programs with whom we collaborate. Thus the release of wheat, barley and oat cultivars with improved resistance to diseases is due, in part, to the research efforts of this project.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, J.A., Wiersma, J.J., Linkert, G.L., Reynolds, S., Kolmer, J.A., Jin, Y., Dill-Macky, R., and Hareland, G.A. (2015). Registration of Rollag spring wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations, 9:201-207.

Progress 07/01/15 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? As the project is only a few months old limited progress has been made however planning is underway to undertake work to address each of the goals over the coming year.

Publications