The effect of common root rot on components of grain yield in Manitou wheat

Abstract

The effects of common root rot (Cochliobolus sativus) on components of grain yield in naturally infected Triticum aestivum cultivar Manitou were studied at Matador, Saskatchewan, by sampling plants at maturity in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Plants were sorted into severe (SE), moderate (MO), slight (SL), and clean (CL) categories based mainly on the extent of lesions on the subcrown internodes. The number of tillers per plant, the number and weight of grains per head, the weight per head, and the 1000-kernel weight in each category were determined. Increasing values of all five components were consistently associated with decreasing disease severity. SE was mostly significantly different from the other three categories in all components except 1000-kernel weight; differences between SL and MO were usually non-significant. CL and SL were mostly significantly different for the number of tillers per plant and weight per head but non-significant for the weight and number of grains per head and 1000-kernel weight. Apparently, the major effect of common root rot was to reduce the number of tillers per plant and number of grains per head.