Resistance within wheat, barley and oat cultivars to Heterodera avenae in South Australia

Abstract

Resistance of 800 wheat, 83 oat, and 36 barley cultivars to the cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae, was tested in South Australia. A wide range of reactions of selected cultivars, assessed by numbers of females produced on the roots, was obtained for each of the cereals with populations of the nematode from two sites. Good resistance was recorded in only two wheat cultivars; Spring wheat (AUS No. 10894) showed moderate resistance in all tests and Loros (AUS No. 90248), although recorded as susceptible in one test, showed moderate resistance in other tests with a different population of the nematode. The importance of method of assessment, initial density of inoculum and relative growth of the cultivars are discussed.