Yield reduction of oat cultivars in relation to disease development caused by barley yellow dwarf virus

Authors

• P. Peltonen-Sainio Department of Crop Husbandry, University of Helsinki, 00710 Helsinki, Finland
• R. Karjalainen Department of Plant Pathology, University of Helsinki, 00710 Helsinki, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72933

Abstract

The effects of barley yellow dwarf virus on the development, grain yield and yield components of oat cultivar Veli and breeding lines Hankkija 78152 and 78033 were studied in two years. Cultivar differences to BYDV infection were best observed at a low infection level. Single tiller analysis indicated close correlation between symptom severity and reduction in main yield components. Early infection caused greatest yield losses in all cultivars. BYDV strongly reduced both plant height and harvest index. Mild infection reduced the grain yield by 2—8 %, but severe infection by 36—41 %. The number of grains and panicle weight were strongly reduced, but the 1000-grain weight was only slightly affected after severe BYDV-infection. Implications of these results for disease control are discussed.