The Effect of Barley Mildew on Barley and Wheat Competition in Mixtures

Abstract

Competition experiments carried out in pots, based on the replacement series approach, indicated that healthy barley plants possessed a higher competitive ability than wheat plants. In the presence of powdery mildew, specifically infecting the barley, this discrepancy was mainly eliminated, and the wheat then competed on approximately equal terms with the barley. The particular value of this approach to parasite impact assessment is discussed together with a problem related to experimental design.