Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206725

Title: OCCURRENCE OF A TILLETIA SP. IN CHEWINGS FESCUE FIELDS IN OREGON

Author
item Alderman, Stephen
item CARRIS, LORI - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Seed Production Research at Oregon State University
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2006
Publication Date: 4/30/2006
Citation: Alderman, S.C., Carris, L.M. 2006. Occurrence of a tilletia sp. in chewings fescue fields in Oregon. Seed Production Research at Oregon State University. EXT/CrS 125, 4/06 P. 31.

Interpretive Summary: A new Tilletia sp. was recently found in a shipment of fine fescue seed from Oregon to China. During 2005, the Tilletia sp. was found in 3 out of 21 fine fescue fields in Oregon, where nearly all the seed production occurs. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of this new Tilletia sp. and confirmation of its occurrence in fine fescue seed production fields in the U.S.

Technical Abstract: An undescribed species of Tilletia with reticulate teliospores was recently reported in a shipment of fine fescue seed from the U.S. to China (1). This fungus has also been detected in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) seed from Australia, although naturally infected plants have not yet been observed (1). During 2005, a survey of fine fescue fields was initiated to determine the extent of Tilletia sp. among fine fescue fields in Oregon, where nearly all of the domestic fine fescue seed production occurs. Included in the survey were 11 fields of Festuca rubra var. commutata (chewings fescue) and 10 fields of F. rubra var. rubra (creeping red fescue). A seed head with a single fully bunted seed was found in each of two chewings fescue fields. In a third chewings fescue field a seed head with 39 fully bunted seeds was found, and 31 seeds on the head appeared healthy. Six additional bunted seeds were found among seed shattered from heads prior to examination. All infected heads included both bunted and healthy seed. Bunted seeds were not detected in the remaining fields. Spores from four bunts were germinated on water agar, and the characteristic nonconjugating basidiospores were observed. This study demonstrates that Tilletia sp. is currently present at a low level in fields of chewings fescue in Oregon.