SUSCEPTIBILITY OF OAT CULTIVARS TO BARLEY YELLOW DWARF VIRUS IN MANITOBA

Abstract

In greenhouse trials, seven oat cultivars (Avena sativa L.) grown in western Canada, Kelsey, Harmon, Sioux, Rodney, Russell, Victory, and Garry, all proved to be susceptible or highly susceptible based on seed yield, to one or more isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). Harmon oats was highly susceptible to a Macrosiphum avenue-specific isolate, susceptible to a Rhopalosiphum padi-specific isolate and to two aphid non-specific isolates, and moderately tolerant to a R. maidis-specific isolate of BYDV. In a growth cabinet trial a New Zealand line, M-921, and a Quebec line, FF64-74, were tolerant and moderately tolerant, respectively, to a virulent non-specific isolate, while 10 advanced lines in the Winnipeg breeding program were rated as susceptible or very susceptible. M-921 and FF64-74 may be useful sources of tolerance to BYDV in the oat breeding program.