The elimination of ryegrass blind-seed disease

Abstract

The co-ordinated ryegrass blind-seed disease research programme is concerned at present with three main features:- 1. A plant-breeding approach in the search for disease-resistant ryegrass lines 2. Blind-seed prevention as influenced by pasture management adaptation, e.g., topdressing and plane-of-nutrition trials; induced lodging and effects of ground cover; date of closing for seed; intensity of grazing. 3. The use of chemical sprays applied to maturing ryegrass ears. It can be demonstrated from the results of our research programme to date and from the persistent seriousness of the disease in the field when seasonal weather conditions encourage the development of the causal fungus, that none of the above lines of approach is strikingly promising or suggestive of a quick solution. The programme, of course, must continue and on the two trial areas at Lincoln College, as on the many areas the Department of Agriculture has under trial. the observations are being continued within the scheme developed co-ordinating committee. Furthermore, from what I have seen personally of the success of plant breeding in disease prevention (in Canadian wheat for rust disease resistance) I am convinced that the efforts of the Grasslands Division in this particular study should be supported to the full, and we can reasonably continue to hope that the results of plant breeding will eventually release an agronomically satisfactory ryegrass which also has some measure of blind-seed disease resistance.