Scald (barley disease)

Scald is a common disease that affects barley crops. It is caused by the fungus Rhynchosporium commune. The disease is prevalent in regions with cool, wet climates and can cause significant yield losses.

Symptoms

The initial symptoms of scald are small, oval or irregularly shaped, water-soaked spots on the leaves. As the disease progresses, these spots enlarge and become brown with a buff or grey centre. The lesions may coalesce, causing large areas of leaf tissue to die.

Disease Cycle

The Rhynchosporium commune fungus survives on infected barley residue and can be spread by wind, rain, and infected seed. The fungus infects the leaves and leaf sheaths of barley plants, causing the symptoms described above. The disease is most severe in cool, wet conditions.

Management

Management of scald involves a combination of cultural practices, resistant varieties, and fungicides. Cultural practices include crop rotation, residue management, and avoiding the use of infected seed. Resistant varieties are available and should be used in areas where the disease is prevalent. Fungicides can be used to control the disease, but should be used judiciously to avoid the development of fungicide resistance.

See Also

• Barley
• Fungus
• Crop rotation
• Fungicide resistance

References

Scald (barley disease) Resources
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