Potential for Biological Control of Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum)and Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae)with Crown and Root Rot Fungi

Abstract

The effects of five soil fungi, endemic to the western United States, were evaluated for disease reaction, root dry weights and shoot dry weights on five grass species. The undesired grass, downy brome or medusahead, the perennial forage species, squirreltail or western wheatgrass, and winter wheat were susceptible to take-all. Downy brome, medusahead, squirreltail, and winter wheat were susceptible to crown rot. The desired grasses, squirreltail, western wheatgrass, and winter wheat, were susceptible to barepatch. Crown rot is adapted to dry soils and may be a potential biological control on downy brome and medusahead in the arid environment of the western U.S.