THE INFLUENCE OF SEVERAL FUNGICIDAL TREATMENTS ON YIELDS OF OATS INFECTED BY SEPTORIA

Abstract

Substantial increases in yield resulted when oats naturally infected by the fungus Leptosphaeria avenaria f.sp. avenaria were treated with certain fungicides. These increases were most apparent in years when luxurious growth occurred and Septoria development was severe. Some of the fungicides were more effective in controlling the fungus and in improving yields while others were toxic and resulted in yield reductions. The effective fungicides appeared to act as protectants rather than as eradicants but none completely controlled disease development. Number of applications, concentration and addition of sticker-spreaders influenced the performance of some of the fungicides. Although higher yields were obtained, only slight increases in the 1000-kernel weights of the grain were observed.