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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206726
Title: Occurrence of Ustilago striiformis in Dactylis glomerata seed production fields in Oregon

Author
item Alderman, Stephen
item OCAMB, C - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item MELLBYE, M - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item SEDEGUI, M - OR DEPT OF AGRICULTURE

Submitted to: Plant Health Progress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/2007
Publication Date: 10/23/2007
Citation: Alderman, S.C., Ocamb, C.M., Mellbye, M.E., Sedegui, M.S. 2007. Occurrence of Ustilago striiformis in Dactylis glomerata seed production fields in Oregon. Plant Health Progress.10.1094/PHP-2007-1023-01-RS.

Interpretive Summary: In 2003 stripe smut was found in orchard grass seed production fields where the disease was not previously know to occur. Because of concern about the emergence of smut in orchard grass seed production fields, surveys for stripe smut were conducted during 2003-2005. Results from the surveys indicated presence of the smut in about a third of the orchard grass fields in 2003 and 2004 and raises concerns that this may be a disease of increasing significance in orchard grass seed production fields.

Technical Abstract: In 2004, 2005, and 2006, U. striiformis was detected in 16, 17, and 3 out of 51, 42, and 33 fields, respectively. The fungus was not previously known to occur in these fields. The percentage of plants per transect with U. striiformis in 2004, 2005, and 2006 ranged from 0.4 to 11.7, 0.4 to 3.8, and 0.7 to 1.3, respectively, based on 4 transects per field, with each transect including ten 1 m row length assessment sites. Clusters of more than one infected plant/m sampling site were found in 9 and 5 fields in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Otherwise infected plants occurred as single infected plants/m row length. In 2004, all of the fields with U. striiformis were located in eastern Benton and western Linn counties, where the two counties border the Willamette River. In 2005, U. striiformis was also observed in one field in Marion county and one field in Yamhill county. In a survey for U. striiformis in seed production fields of other grasses, U. striiformis was found in one field of Agrostis stononifera in 2006. Otherwise, in 2004 – 2006, U. striiformis was not found in fields of Agrostis castellana, A. stolonifera, A. capillaries, Festuca arundinacea, F. longifolia, F. ovina, F. rubra subsp. commutata, F. rubra subsp. rubra, or Lolium perenne.