Effect of soilborne wheat mosaic virus on winter wheat yield and yield components

Abstract

Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV) is an important disease of wheat production areas throughout the world, causing a great reduction in wheat and barley yields. The most effective way of controlling the disease is the use of resistant varieties in infested areas. In this study, the effects of SBWMV on yields and some yield components of eight susceptible, one moderately susceptible/resistant and nine resistant varieties were evaluated using data from 9 virus-infested and 6 non-infested sites in Eskisehir, Turkey over 6 years. The susceptible varieties yielded 5.35% more than resistant varieties in non-infested sites, while they gave 28.98% lower yield in infested sites. Significant yield loss differences were observed between the varieties in infested sites. Decreases were also observed in yield components at various levels. This study showed that SBWMV is an important disease, which survives in soil for long periods and causes significant yield decreases in wheat. Recently developed varieties have good resistance to the disease and are recommended to farmers in infested areas.  Abbreviations: SBWMV, soil-borne wheat mosaic virus