Environmental factors affecting the release and dispersal of pycnidiospores and ascospores of Mycosphaerella graminicola

Leaf blotch of wheat, caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola is an important wheat disease that produces yield losses in different regions of the world. The objectives of this study were to examine the relative abundance of M.graminicola ascospores and conidia in a field environment throughout a period of two years and establish the relationship between their release and the climatic conditions. This inoculum posses a risk to crop production and may be important to the epidemiology of septoria diseases in the wheat producing areas of Argentina. The inoculum level of airborne spores was measured in Julio Hirschron Experimental Stattion at Los Hornos locality during October 1998 to September 1999 to September 2000. Spore traps were used to monitor both ascospores and pycnidiospores when the wheat crop was in the vegetative and debris states. Samples were taken weekly. Data of pycnidiospores in water, in petroleum jelly and ascospores in petroleum jelly wee recorded