Screening for virulence of Blumeria graminis tritici using mobile nurseries

Abstract

Blumeria graminis tritici, the causal agent of Powdery mildew, is a regular and economically important disease of wheat in Serbia and a major disease problem in wheat crops in Europe, particularly in northern and western parts. Infection intensity vanes in dependence of wheat variety, climate conditions and agricultural practices. Although there have been no epiphytotics in Serbia yet, this disease can play a significant role in yield formation. Successful wheat breeding for resistance to the causal agent of powdery mildew is based on the identification of virulence and changes in the pathogen population. The asexual part of the population of E. graminis tritici consists of patothypes formed by asexual reproduction in spring. The dynamics of the population is ensured by the combination of pathotypes of different origin. This paper reviews the results obtained in the period of 7 years, from 1997 to 2003. The population of B. graminis tritici was studied during wheat vegetation in the spring, using mobile nurseries in the location Rimski Šancevi near Novi Sad.