An investigation of the Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus as a primary or associated cause of premature ripening or "Deadheads" in wheat

Abstract

In two controlled experiments conducted in 1960 and 1961 respectively, the ability of recognized root pathogens to induce premature ripening ("deadheads") of wheat was compared with that of the barley yellow dwarf virus, a hitherto uninvestigated factor in this regard. In both experiments the heads of virus-infected plants ripened earlier than those of plants inoculated with fungal pathogens, and grain in heads which were not completely sterile was extremely shrivelled. However, it was impossible to decide by visual observation when normal ripening commenced. To overcome this difficulty a formula for the classification of prematurely ripened heads, on a weight per floret basis, was used for the statistical analysis of the results. On this quantitative basis it was found that the virus significantly reduced the yield of grain (l% level), but there was no interaction between the virus and any of the root-rot fungi. The fungus, Rhizoctonia solani, Kuehn, also significantly reduced the yield in both experiments (5% level) and Fusarium culmorum (W.G.Sm.) Sacc. caused a reduction (5% level) in the 1960 experiment. There was a significant interaction (5% level) between these fungi in the 1961 experiment. The fungi Ophiobolus graminis Sacc., Helminthosporium sativum Pamm., King & Bakke, and Curvularia ramosa (Bainer) Boed., did not significantly reduce grain yield in either experiment. All fungi were recovered, but to a varying degree, from the roots of inoculated plants.

A survey of barley yellow dwarf virus in Australia 1963

“…R. padi was the most abundant and often the only cereal aphid in all districts and is undoubtedly the main vector of BYDV in Australia. This confirms the results of Butler, Grylls, and Goodchild (1960) in New South Wales; Geard (1960) in Tasmania; Harvey (1962) in Western Australia; and Price and Stubbs (1963) in Victoria-who have all previously found R. padi an efficient vector of BYDV.…”

“…The mast pramising methads of cantral of BYDV infectian in springsown cereals are: 1. early sowing; 2. sawing varieties more talerant to' BYDV infectian (Price and Stubbs 1963); 3. top-dressing crops with pelle ted systemic insecticides ("Disystan" or "Thimet") after the first aphid flights have colonised the crap; 4. encouraging early activity af caccinellids such as V. frenata.…”

“…It was first seen in Australia by Smith (1957) and has been studied in several states (Butler, Grylls, and Goodchild 1960;Geard 1960;Harvey 1962;Price and Stubbs 1963), but has not been ,reported as a major economic disease of cereals in Australia, although Price and Stubbs (lac. cit.…”

Resistance to bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) in winter wheat varieties

“…Besides direct damage the R. padi is the most important vector of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) (Price & Stubbs, 1963;Ullman et al, 1988;McGrath & Bale, 1990). BYDV transmitted by R.…”

Glasshouse Studies on Ophiobolus graminis as a Cause of Whiteheads in Wheat

“…More recently. PRICE and STUBBS (1963) were unable to induce whiteheads experimentally with O. graminis and other root pathogens but did so with barley yellow dwarf virus. They concluded that there was insufficient evidence to positively associate root pathogens with premature ripening because the same fungi could be isolated from plants with normal heads.…”