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Joint project: Optimization of seed treatment products, effective against smut in barley and wheat (Ustilago nuda, U. tritici) using improved methods for detection of pathogens
Project
Project code: 2806OE341
Contract period: 06.10.2008
- 31.03.2012
Budget: 228,128 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
The loose smuts of cereals are of great economic importance in organic farming. This is particularly true for barley and wheat loose smut (Ustilago nuda and U. tritici) which survive as a resting mycelium in the embryo of the caryopsis and are therefore difficult to reach by control measures. Hot water treatment can control loose smut, but has various disadvantages and is therefore hardly used in the practice. The aim of the project is the identification and development of agents of natural origin that effectively control the loose smut pathogen when applied as a seed treatment and can be used in organic farming.
A prerequisite for successful work with the embryo-infecting loose smuts is the availability of highly infected seed lots. Such seeds will be produced by artificial inoculation of the florets. In laboratory tests, culture filtrates of microorganisms and extracts of various plants will be screened for ability to prevent germination of the teliospores of Ustilago. Candidates with proven in vitro activity will be tested in small plot field trials using U. nuda on winter and spring barley and U. tritici on winter wheat. Where feasible, extraction and formulation of the agents will include the use of ethanol that in previous projects showed activity against loose smut, particularly against U. nuda on spring barley and U. avenae on spring oats. Selected seed treatments will be tested in replicated field trials at two different locations.
Under natural conditions, the level of seed infection by U. nuda or U. tritici is seldom higher than 10 %. Floret inoculation is an effective, but very labour intensive and expensive method. Therefore, one aim of the project is to develop inoculation methods that allow the production of highly infected seed lots in the field. The techniques to be tested will include repeated applications of spores, use of pre-germinated spores and application of spores together with agents that promote spore germination.
Methods to detect the loose smut pathogen in seed and seedling tissue will be developed and optimised. In these experiments, the fungal mycelium will be diagnosed by light microscopy, immunology (ELISA) and PCR. The aim is the development of a method that allows the rapid identification of effective seed treatments in greenhouse tests.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Organic Farming
Collaborative Project
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
