Reaction of Canada western red spring and canada prairie spring cultivars to leaf spots in southern saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedLeaf spots are presently the most widespread diseases of wheat in Saskatchewan (Fernandez et al.. 1997; 1998). None of the cultivars currently registered in western Canada are resistant to this disease complex (Varieties of Grain Crops, 1998). The most common leaf spot diseases in western Canada are tan spot and the Septoria leaf blotch complex (Fernandez et al., 1997; Gilbert et al., 1997). A study of 12 wheat cultivars determined differences among quality classes and species in the relative susceptibility to the various leaf spot pathogens (Femandez et al., 1996). However, differences in the reaction to leaf spot diseases among common wheat cultivars presently being grown on the Canadian prairies has not been determined. This information would help to predict disease severity of these cultivars in different environments. Information on the relative colonization by each pathogen would be useful for deciding what leaf spot disease to consider a priority when incorporating resistance to this disease complex into adapted germplasm. The objective of this research was to determine differences in leaf spot severity and colonization by each leaf spot pathogen among commonly grown Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat cultivars over two years at two locations in southern Saskatchewan