Assessment of pathogen variation for scald, net blotch, stripe rust and common root rot/spot blotch pathogens in response to geographic location, host genotype, host growth stage and specific host issues

This Barley Research Cluster project was funded by Alberta Barley in collaboration with the Atlantic Grains Council, the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute, Rahr Malting and the Western Grains Research Foundation via the AgriInnovation Program.

Project lead:
Dr. T. Kelly Turkington, Research Scientist
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Start Date: April 2013

End Date: March 2018

Alberta Barley’s contribution:  $63,052
Total funding from other partners: $229,287

Benefits for barley farmers:
It is critical to have ongoing, up-to-date knowledge regarding the causal agents of the main disease issues that farmers face. This information is important for farmers because it will allow them to avoid cultivars with sources of resistance that are no longer effective, reducing the negative impact of disease on yield and quality.

Summary:
Modern agriculture’s reliance on uniform cultivars, monocultures and rotations with limited diversity hinders efforts to manage pest issues, such as diseases. The lack of genetic diversity in modern cultivars is also frequently reflected in the narrowness of the genetic basis of their disease resistance, and increases the potential for pathogens to adapt, overcome the resistance and cause widespread epidemics. Trials were conducted in 2013 to assess the variability and nature of the pathogens that cause scald, net blotch and stripe rust in barley. Evaluation of scald reactions for older and previously resistant varieties indicates that the scald pathogen has adapted to the resistance in these varieties.