Scald (barley)
Encyclopedia
Scald is common disease of barley in temperate regions. It is caused by the fungus Rhynchosporium secalis
and can cause significant yield losses in cooler, wet seasons.
coleoptiles, glumes, floral bracts and awns. Initial symptoms are oval, water-soaked, grayish-green spots, 1.0-1.5 cm long.
As the disease develops, the centers of the lesions dry and bleach, becoming light gray, tan, or white with a dark brown
margin. The lesions are not delimited by the leaf veins and often coalesce.
can infect and survive in barley seed. It exists as mycelium in the pericarp and hull of infected seeds.
Infection of the coleoptile occurs as it emerges from the embryo. Optimal infections occurs at soil temperatures of 16C. At
soil temperatures of 22C or higher, very little infection occurs.
In spring cropping systems, the fungus overwinters on the crop debris and stubble of previous diseased barley crops. The
fungus produces abundant conidia on wet lesions during cool, damp weather after the leaf tissue has become necrotic. Conidia,
spread by wind and splashing rain, infect young leaves of spring- planted grain. Optimum temperatures for sporulation and
infection range from 10-18C. Hot, dry weather reduces the rate of disease development.
America, Africa, the Middle east, Japan and Korea. Yield losses as high as 35-40% have been reported, however, losses of
1-10% are more common. Yield loss is primarily due to reduced kernel weight, but both kernels per head and number of heads
per plant may also been affected.
In the wetter areas of the United Kingdom, scald is the most damaging disease of barley, affecting both spring and winter
crops.
In the Victoria area of Australia, scald is widespread in barley crops in most seasons, but its severity varies greatly from
crop to crop and between seasons. In Victoria, scald causes annual average yield losses of 10-20%, with individual losses as
high as 45% in susceptible varieties. In Canada, yield losses in
Alberta have been calculated at 2.4 per cent, although losses in particular fields may exceed 25 per cent. Losses are due to a
decrease in photosynthetic area on the flag and second leaves resulting in reduced seed weight.
management, and foliar fungicide
s.
spectrum and the degree of resistance that is required to effectively control the disease will depend on the region where it
is grown, cropping practices that reduce initial disease inoculum, wetter conditions and fungal pathotypes.
depend upon numerous factors.
The availability of fungicides as a management tool depends on whether the product has been evaluated and registered for use
in a specific country or region.
Foliar fungicides: azoxystrobin1, bromuconazole1, cyproconazole1, epoxiconazole1,
fluquinconazole1, flusilazole1, propiconazole1, 2, 3, prochloraz1,
pyraclostrobin2,tebuconazole1
Seed treatment fungicides: triadimenol2
1. EPPO - Europe
2. Canada: Alberta
3. US: Oregon
epoxiconazole). To date there are no issues with strobilruin fungicides (QoI fungicides), but the situation is being monitored
closely. There are currently no issues concerning chlorothalonil, cyprodinil or the morpholines.
Rhynchosporium secalis
Rhynchosporium secalis is an ascomycete fungus that is the causal agent of barley and rye scald.-Morphology:No sexual stage is known. The mycelium is hyaline to light gray and develops sparsely as a compact stroma under the cuticle of the host plant. Condia are borne sessilely on cells of the...
and can cause significant yield losses in cooler, wet seasons.
Symptoms
Scald is a foliar disease of barley affecting the leaves and sheaths of the plant; however, lesions may also occur oncoleoptiles, glumes, floral bracts and awns. Initial symptoms are oval, water-soaked, grayish-green spots, 1.0-1.5 cm long.
As the disease develops, the centers of the lesions dry and bleach, becoming light gray, tan, or white with a dark brown
margin. The lesions are not delimited by the leaf veins and often coalesce.
Disease cycle
The fungusFungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
can infect and survive in barley seed. It exists as mycelium in the pericarp and hull of infected seeds.
Infection of the coleoptile occurs as it emerges from the embryo. Optimal infections occurs at soil temperatures of 16C. At
soil temperatures of 22C or higher, very little infection occurs.
In spring cropping systems, the fungus overwinters on the crop debris and stubble of previous diseased barley crops. The
fungus produces abundant conidia on wet lesions during cool, damp weather after the leaf tissue has become necrotic. Conidia,
spread by wind and splashing rain, infect young leaves of spring- planted grain. Optimum temperatures for sporulation and
infection range from 10-18C. Hot, dry weather reduces the rate of disease development.
Geographical distribution and economic importance
The disease is economically important barley disease in Europe, North America and Australia. It has been reported from SouthAmerica, Africa, the Middle east, Japan and Korea. Yield losses as high as 35-40% have been reported, however, losses of
1-10% are more common. Yield loss is primarily due to reduced kernel weight, but both kernels per head and number of heads
per plant may also been affected.
In the wetter areas of the United Kingdom, scald is the most damaging disease of barley, affecting both spring and winter
crops.
In the Victoria area of Australia, scald is widespread in barley crops in most seasons, but its severity varies greatly from
crop to crop and between seasons. In Victoria, scald causes annual average yield losses of 10-20%, with individual losses as
high as 45% in susceptible varieties. In Canada, yield losses in
Alberta have been calculated at 2.4 per cent, although losses in particular fields may exceed 25 per cent. Losses are due to a
decrease in photosynthetic area on the flag and second leaves resulting in reduced seed weight.
Management
Management of the disease involves the use of clean and/or treated seeds, resistant cultivars, crop rotation, residuemanagement, and foliar fungicide
Fungicide
Fungicides are chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of yield, quality and profit. Fungicides are used both in agriculture and to fight fungal infections in animals...
s.
Resistant cultivars
Cultivars with scald resistance are available in all major barley growing areas. The level of resistance occurs along aspectrum and the degree of resistance that is required to effectively control the disease will depend on the region where it
is grown, cropping practices that reduce initial disease inoculum, wetter conditions and fungal pathotypes.
Fungicides
Foliar fungicides can be used to effectively control disease development. Product selection, application rates and timing,depend upon numerous factors.
The availability of fungicides as a management tool depends on whether the product has been evaluated and registered for use
in a specific country or region.
Foliar fungicides: azoxystrobin1, bromuconazole1, cyproconazole1, epoxiconazole1,
fluquinconazole1, flusilazole1, propiconazole1, 2, 3, prochloraz1,
pyraclostrobin2,tebuconazole1
Seed treatment fungicides: triadimenol2
1. EPPO - Europe
2. Canada: Alberta
3. US: Oregon
Fungicide resistance
In the United Kingdom, there are issues concerning MBC fungicides and some of the triazole fungicides (e.g. flusilazole andepoxiconazole). To date there are no issues with strobilruin fungicides (QoI fungicides), but the situation is being monitored
closely. There are currently no issues concerning chlorothalonil, cyprodinil or the morpholines.