|
Background and Objectives:
Manitoba farmers suffer considerable financial losses to cereal diseases every year. In
1997, wheat producers lost an estimated $56 million as calculated by Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada and Manitoba Agriculture and Food. Assuming similar losses to barley and
oat production of 10%, the overall loss of cereal production in Manitoba would approximate
$100 million.
Cereal production including wheat, oats and barley in 1996 in Portage la Prairie area
was 263,722 acres and in the province of Manitoba was 6,799,814 acres. Total production of
cereals as determined by Manitoba Agriculture Policy and Analysis Branch was 226.3 million
bushels worth $1.102 billion.
Fungicide use in cereal production is not a common practice in Manitoba. Cereal market
prices have caused producers to limit their inputs into the crops to minimize risk. The
economics of fungicide applications to new varieties of cereals has not been adequately
researched to the satisfaction of producers in central Manitoba. Registration and
promotional data for some of the cereal fungicides currently on the market were generated
five or more years ago on varieties no longer being grown. These varieties did not have
the disease resistance packages of those currently being recommended for production. While
the efficacy of the fungicides on the various leaf and head diseases is well documented,
the benefits of controlling these diseases on newer, more resistant varieties is not well
known.
Increasing yield by 10% through the province by using fungicides would produce an
additional 22.6 million bushels of wheat, oats and barley. This would be available for the
livestock, processing and export markets, aiding in the hog and cattle expansion. A result
of increasing yields by 10% would be a jump of $110 million in the value of cereal
production in the province or $2.6 million locally in the Portage la Prairie area.
The project provided growers with agronomic information on the disease resistance
package contained in the new varieties of wheat and oats currently being recommended for
production. Over the two seasons of 1998 and 1999, the CROP cereal program evaluated 17
varieties of barley, 10 varieties of hulless barley, 10 varieties of oats and 23 varieties
of wheat in three-replicate tests. The test demonstrated the yield potential of each
variety under naturally-occurring disease levels in each year.
Procedure and Project Activities:
In 1998, the fungicide-treated and the untreated cereal crops were established in
separate tests. One test was treated with a foliar fungicide to control leaf diseases; the
other test was left untreated to evaluate the tolerance or resistance of the cereal
varieties to the leaf diseases. This layout was used to facilitate fungicide application
to the plots and to minimize drift of the fungicide spray into the untreated plot area. In
each separate test, there were 12 varieties of barley; 6 varieties of hulless barley; 18
varieties of wheat; and 9 varieties of oat. Each crop test was set with three replicates
using an RCB design.
In 1999, each cereal crop was established in a split block design with three
replicates, with the fungicide treatment comprising the main plot and the varieties
comprising the sub-plots. The change in layout allowed for improved statistical comparison
between fungicide-treated and untreated plots. In the tests, there were 9 varieties of
barley; 8 varieties of hulless barley; 12 varieties of wheat; and 6 varieties of oat.
In 1998, all crop trials (treated and untreated) were seeded on May 18th. In
1999, hulless barley, barley and oats were seeded on May 25th, and wheat was
seeded on May 29th. Individual plots of each variety were seeded with a
double-disc drill into plots measuring 1.25m x 6m. Fertilization and weed control
practices followed those typically used in the production area. Tilt (propiconazole)
fungicide was sprayed prior to head emergence at a rate of 0.2 L/acre in a water volume of
45 L/acre. A three-point-hitch sprayer with XR80015 flat fan nozzles was used to apply the
fungicide at initiation of heading.
Leaf diseases were assessed at the flag leaf stage of each crop in the treated as well
as in the untreated cultivars using a scale of 0% to 100% leaf infection. Leaf rust
assessments were based on the Rust Scoring Guide, produced by the Research Institute for
Plant Protection. Severity ratings were based on a scale of T (trace) to 100% infection.
The crops were harvested with a research plot combine.
Quality analysis on oat varieties were conducted by Can-Oat Milling of Portage la
Prairie.
Results and Discussion:
Diseases - Leaf Rust (Puccinia spp) and Stem Rust (Puccinia spp)
disease incidence were very low during both years of testing (1998 and 1999). Leaf
Spotting complex (Septoria tritici blotch, Septoria avenae blotch and
tanspot) disease incidence levels were higher in 1998 than in 1999. Two of the diseases,
Crown Rust (Puccinia spp) in oat and Spot Blotch (Cochliobolus spp) in all
the cereal crops, were present in both years. Untreated plots of wheat in 1998 had
suffered leaf senescence as a result of disease by the time of rating. This made rating of
the varieties not possible.
Environmental Conditions - In both years of the test, crops experienced good
soil moisture conditions during May and June, followed by limited rainfall in July and
August.
Barley - (Table 1 and Table 2). Yield increases as a result of the fungicide
application were seen in only two barley varieties in 1998, AC Bountiful and Merit, and in
three varieties in 1999, CDC Stratus, AC Queens and CDC Kendall. Thousand-kernel-weights
of barley tended to be higher in the treated plots in 1998, while response was less in
1999. Disease levels were reduced as a result of the application of the fungicide.
However, spot blotch, leaf rust and stem rust levels were low in the 1999 test.
Table 1. 1998 Results of Foliar Fungicide Application on New Varieties of Barley
|
|
Yield |
|
TKW |
|
Leaf Spot |
|
Spot Blotch |
|
Leaf Rust |
|
Stem Rust |
|
|
(bu/ac) |
Trtd as
% of Untrt |
|
(grams) |
Trtd as
% of Untrt |
|
(%) |
|
(%) |
|
(%) |
|
(%) |
|
Entries |
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
AC Rosser |
147 |
123 |
84 |
|
46.20 |
53.00 |
115 |
|
34 |
4 |
|
10 |
0 |
|
10 |
1 |
|
0 |
3 |
|
Stander |
141 |
100 |
71 |
|
45.63 |
48.85 |
107 |
|
23 |
5 |
|
3 |
0 |
|
27 |
4 |
|
3 |
8 |
|
Foster |
136 |
93 |
68 |
|
45.63 |
49.27 |
108 |
|
20 |
13 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
10 |
1 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
Robust |
130 |
92 |
70 |
|
45.82 |
44.10 |
96 |
|
17 |
15 |
|
0 |
3 |
|
22 |
2 |
|
7 |
5 |
|
CDC Stratus |
127 |
105 |
83 |
|
51.78 |
54.17 |
105 |
|
37 |
8 |
|
3 |
0 |
|
2 |
4 |
|
7 |
4 |
|
CDC Sisler |
124 |
94 |
76 |
|
42.67 |
40.07 |
94 |
|
43 |
7 |
|
3 |
0 |
|
0 |
1 |
|
0 |
2 |
|
Argyle |
120 |
92 |
77 |
|
43.62 |
40.68 |
93 |
|
30 |
13 |
|
10 |
7 |
|
10 |
0 |
|
7 |
2 |
|
AC Harper |
114 |
92 |
81 |
|
43.23 |
46.37 |
107 |
|
40 |
7 |
|
7 |
0 |
|
7 |
1 |
|
7 |
2 |
|
AC Metcalfe |
112 |
103 |
92 |
|
43.90 |
48.72 |
111 |
|
47 |
12 |
|
13 |
3 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
0 |
7 |
|
AC Bountiful (TR 243) |
101 |
105 |
104 |
|
48.75 |
56.40 |
116 |
|
50 |
7 |
|
10 |
0 |
|
0 |
2 |
|
14 |
2 |
|
Merit |
97 |
110 |
113 |
|
43.53 |
54.38 |
125 |
|
47 |
5 |
|
7 |
0 |
|
1 |
4 |
|
3 |
4 |
|
CDC Fleet |
96 |
91 |
95 |
|
47.22 |
49.45 |
105 |
|
53 |
18 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
7 |
0 |
|
LSD
(0.05) = |
12.4 |
17.3 |
|
|
5.70 |
4.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CV (%)
= |
7.3 |
12.3 |
|
|
8.90 |
6.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 2. 1999 Results of Foliar Fungicide Application on New Varieties of Barley
|
|
Yield |
|
TKW |
|
Spot
Blotch |
|
|
(bu/ac) |
Trtd as
% of Untrt |
|
(grams) |
Trtd as
% of Untrt |
|
(%) |
|
Entries |
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
CDC Thompson (TR 129) |
124 |
123 |
99 |
|
43.86 |
46.05 |
105 |
|
62 |
23 |
|
Xena (TR 975) |
119 |
101 |
85 |
|
48.84 |
48.42 |
99 |
|
25 |
15 |
|
Foster |
110 |
91 |
83 |
|
40.76 |
40.13 |
98 |
|
35 |
13 |
|
AC Kings (AB 159-10) |
104 |
95 |
91 |
|
49.77 |
49.11 |
99 |
|
18 |
12 |
|
Robust |
95 |
90 |
95 |
|
40.46 |
39.67 |
98 |
|
23 |
15 |
|
AC Bountiful (TR 243) |
95 |
89 |
94 |
|
46.52 |
46.99 |
101 |
|
13 |
12 |
|
CDC Stratus |
88 |
91 |
103 |
|
44.93 |
45.95 |
102 |
|
27 |
13 |
|
AC Queens (AB 1592) |
83 |
89 |
107 |
|
50.36 |
51.65 |
103 |
|
15 |
7 |
|
CDC Kendall (TR 133) |
83 |
89 |
107 |
|
42.28 |
43.42 |
103 |
|
32 |
15 |
|
LSD (0.05) = |
ns |
|
|
ns |
|
|
|
|
|
CV (%) = |
9.22 |
|
|
3.16 |
|
|
|
|
Hulless Barley - (Table 3 and Table 4). All the varieties, except CDC Silky in
1998, showed an increase in yield as a response to the fungicide treatment. The yield
increase averaged 12% in each year. While the impact on thousand-kernel-weight varied, the
net result was a slight increase. The fungicide treatment on the hulless barley varieties
reduced the levels of leaf spot, spot blotch and leaf rust.
Table 3. 1998 Results of Foliar Fungicide Application on New Varieties of Hulless Barley
|
|
Yield |
|
TKW |
|
Leaf Spot |
|
Spot Blotch |
|
Leaf Rust |
|
Stem Rust |
|
|
(bu/ac) |
Trtd as % of Untrt |
|
(grams) |
Trtd as % of Untrt |
|
(%) |
|
(%) |
|
(%) |
|
(%) |
|
Entries |
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
AC
Hawkeye |
101 |
105 |
104 |
|
42.98 |
50.07 |
116 |
|
20 |
13 |
|
13 |
7 |
|
12 |
4 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
CDC
Silky |
98 |
95 |
97 |
|
36.90 |
47.50 |
129 |
|
13 |
7 |
|
10 |
1 |
|
4 |
2 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
AC
Bacon |
90 |
99 |
110 |
|
44.22 |
47.73 |
108 |
|
20 |
13 |
|
10 |
5 |
|
7 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
CDC
Dawn |
86 |
101 |
117 |
|
35.48 |
51.08 |
144 |
|
17 |
18 |
|
17 |
15 |
|
4 |
1 |
|
2 |
0 |
|
CDC
Freedom |
85 |
95 |
112 |
|
43.78 |
48.65 |
111 |
|
23 |
23 |
|
27 |
12 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
CDC
Gainer |
74 |
97 |
131 |
|
38.13 |
50.13 |
131 |
|
20 |
23 |
|
27 |
12 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
LSD
(0.05) = |
12.0 |
7.5 |
|
|
3.8 |
4.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CV (%)
= |
9.1 |
5.1 |
|
|
6.4 |
6.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 4. 1999 Results of Foliar Fungicide Application on New Varieties of Hulless Barley
|
|
Yield |
|
TKW |
|
Spot
Blotch |
|
|
(bu/ac) |
Trtd as % of Untrt |
|
(grams) |
Trtd as % of Untrt |
|
(%) |
|
Entries |
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
CDC
MCGwire (HB 335) |
110 |
119 |
108 |
|
38.00 |
39.67 |
104 |
|
62 |
23 |
|
CDC
Silky |
103 |
110 |
107 |
|
32.00 |
33.30 |
104 |
|
25 |
15 |
|
AC
Bacon |
95 |
111 |
117 |
|
38.67 |
39.67 |
103 |
|
35 |
13 |
|
Condor
|
93 |
104 |
112 |
|
38.33 |
38.67 |
101 |
|
18 |
12 |
|
Tercel
(HB605) |
88 |
89 |
101 |
|
44.33 |
44.67 |
101 |
|
23 |
15 |
|
CDC
Gainer |
84 |
98 |
117 |
|
37.67 |
39.00 |
104 |
|
13 |
12 |
|
Jeager
(HB608) |
83 |
93 |
112 |
|
35.67 |
36.00 |
101 |
|
27 |
13 |
|
CDC
Freedom |
82 |
99 |
120 |
|
39.33 |
41.33 |
105 |
|
32 |
15 |
|
LSD
(0.05) = |
ns |
|
|
ns |
|
|
|
|
|
CV (%)
= |
7.65 |
|
|
2.80 |
|
|
|
|
Oats - (Table 5 and Table 6). A positive yield response to the fungicide
application occurred with only three varieties in 1998 (Whitestone, AC Rebel and Dumont)
and three varieties in 1999 (AC Medallion, Riel and Dumont). The cultivars Riel, Dumont
and AC Rebel are listed in the Seed Manitoba 2000 Variety Guide as having Poor resistance
to crown rust, whereas Triple Crown, OT 292, AC Assiniboia and AC Medallion have Fair to
Very Good resistant to the disease. The data collected in both years supports this rating.
Whitestone and Jerry showed poor resistance to crown rust in the 1998 test. Spot blotch
was not rated in 1998 and at very low levels in 1999. This is evident by the high levels
of crown rust experienced on the untreated plots of these varieties. Fungicide treatment
resulted in a dramatic reduction of the disease on susceptible varieties of the crop. Stem
rust was assessed only in 1998 and was reduced by the fungicide treatment.
Table 5. 1998 Results of Foliar Fungicide Application on New Varieties of Oats
|
|
Yield |
TKW |
Crown Rust |
Stem Rust |
Test Weight |
Thins |
Groat |
|
|
(bu/ac) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
(grams) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
(%) |
(%) |
(lbs/bu) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
(%) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
(%) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
|
Entries |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
AC Assiniboia |
193 |
187 |
97 |
38.30 |
38.33 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
39 |
38 |
97 |
1.16 |
3.00 |
258 |
79 |
77 |
97 |
|
AC Medallion |
190 |
179 |
94 |
36.00 |
34.00 |
94 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
39 |
38 |
97 |
2.64 |
2.67 |
101 |
74 |
76 |
103 |
|
Triple Crown |
190 |
173 |
91 |
32.30 |
35.67 |
110 |
14 |
2 |
10 |
4 |
41 |
37 |
90 |
1.24 |
2.67 |
215 |
75 |
78 |
104 |
|
CDC Boyer |
185 |
184 |
99 |
34.00 |
37.00 |
109 |
47 |
15 |
15 |
0 |
39 |
37 |
95 |
1.16 |
1.33 |
115 |
76 |
77 |
104 |
|
Riel |
181 |
180 |
99 |
35.67 |
34.33 |
96 |
80 |
10 |
33 |
1 |
42 |
40 |
95 |
4.00 |
3.67 |
92 |
75 |
76 |
101 |
|
Whitestone |
176 |
198 |
113 |
35.33 |
33.00 |
93 |
53 |
20 |
43 |
15 |
39 |
39 |
100 |
5.80 |
2.67 |
46 |
77 |
77 |
100 |
|
Jerry |
166 |
156 |
94 |
42.00 |
37.00 |
88 |
60 |
17 |
67 |
1 |
42 |
41 |
98 |
3.84 |
5.00 |
130 |
76 |
76 |
100 |
|
AC Rebel |
154 |
185 |
120 |
32.33 |
34.00 |
105 |
53 |
33 |
40 |
1 |
38 |
38 |
100 |
6.52 |
4.33 |
66 |
76 |
75 |
99 |
|
Dumont |
154 |
173 |
112 |
33.00 |
35.00 |
106 |
67 |
23 |
23 |
2 |
39 |
37 |
95 |
4.64 |
5.67 |
122 |
74 |
76 |
103 |
|
LSD (0.05) = |
19.8 |
25.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CV (%) = |
7.9 |
10.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 6. 1999 Results of Foliar Fungicide Application on New Varieties of Oats
|
|
Yield |
TKW |
Crown Rust |
Spot Blotch |
Test Weight |
|
Groat |
|
|
(bu/ac) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
(grams) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
(%) |
(%) |
(lbs/bu) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
(%) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
(%) |
Trtd
as % of Untrt |
|
Entries |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Triple Crown |
183 |
172 |
94 |
39.04 |
39.77 |
102 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
41 |
41 |
100 |
0.60 |
0.80 |
133 |
71.6 |
70.5 |
98 |
|
OT 292 |
152 |
145 |
95 |
37.91 |
37.24 |
98 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
41 |
38 |
93 |
0.40 |
1.16 |
290 |
76.1 |
71.6 |
94 |
|
AC Assiniboia |
147 |
142 |
97 |
39.94 |
38.11 |
95 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
40 |
41 |
103 |
1.28 |
0.92 |
73 |
75.7 |
76.9 |
102 |
|
AC Medallion |
127 |
133 |
105 |
36.97 |
35.81 |
97 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
8 |
40 |
40 |
100 |
3.32 |
1.48 |
45 |
72.8 |
73.9 |
102 |
|
Riel |
105 |
124 |
118 |
30.49 |
32.68 |
107 |
57 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
39 |
41 |
105 |
5.48 |
2.32 |
42 |
71.6 |
75.9 |
106 |
|
Dumont |
101 |
125 |
124 |
30.85 |
34.33 |
112 |
40 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
36 |
39 |
108 |
6.40 |
2.76 |
43 |
67.8 |
70.5 |
104 |
|
LSD (0.05) = |
ns |
|
ns |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CV (%) = |
9.8 |
|
5.80 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Response of thousand-kernel-weight, test weight, % thins and % groat of the varieties
to the fungicide treatment was variable.
Wheat - (Table 7 and Table 8). A yield increase in most of the wheat varieties
was observed as a result of the fungicide treatment in 1998 and 1999. Average yield
increase was 3% in 1998 and 16% in 1999. In 1998, the varieties Amazon, Glenlea, AC
Corrine, Prodigy, Lars, Hammer and AC Domain did not have any yield increase with the
fungicide treatment. In 1999, only McKenzie and AC Cora did not respond to the fungicide
with a yield increase. Thousand-kernel-weight was also increased for most varieties in
both years. In 1999, only McKenzie wheat did not show an increase with the fungicide
application. The fungicide treatment reduced the level of disease in the wheat crop in
both years. However, in 1998, the severity of the diseases resulted in early senescence of
leaves in the Untreated plots making rating comparisons not possible.
Table 7. 1998 Results of Foliar Fungicide Application on New Varieties of Wheat
|
|
Yield |
|
TKW |
|
Leaf
Rust |
Spot
Blotch |
|
|
(bu/ac) |
Trtd as % of Untrt |
|
(grams) |
Trtd as % of Untrt |
|
(%) |
(%) |
|
Entries |
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Untrt |
Trtd |
|
Trtd |
Trtd |
|
AC Vista |
98 |
102 |
104 |
|
44.73 |
44.33 |
99 |
|
40 |
8 |
|
Amazon (ES 4) |
96 |
93 |
97 |
|
47.10 |
45.63 |
97 |
|
5 |
2 |
|
Glenlea |
94 |
94 |
100 |
|
46.98 |
44.28 |
94 |
|
22 |
7 |
|
AC Corrine (ES 7) |
94 |
93 |
99 |
| 
