Climate change impact on small grains diseases appearance in Vojvodina region

Abstract

Multi-year data have shown that Blumeria (Erysiphe) graminis tritici reaches a second peak of infection in the last few days of May. After that, the fungus begins to develop cleistothecia as a result of its sexual cycle and the risk of any major damage to crops practically vanishes. By making a rapid transition from the stage of urediniospores to that of teliospores, leaf rust causes less damage than expected. There is a direct link between the occurrence and severity of leaf rust and the causal agent of powdery mildew. The more severe the outbreak of powdery mildew is, the lower the incidence of leaf rust will be, and vice versa. Oat crops suffer significant damage from crown rust (Puccinia coronata avenae) and stem rust (P. graminis avenae). Infections by these pathogens appear later in oat than in wheat and barley and are hence more severe in the spring genotypes of the crop. However, the effectiveness of the resistance genes (Pm and Lr, Pc ones) in a population is dependant on temperature fluctuations.