FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH ROOT-ROT OF WINTER-WHEAT IN ALABAMA

Winter wheat plants were sampled during the spring and autumn to ident ify Fungi associated with root rot in Alabama. Samples were taken From 61 fields in the major wheat-producing areas of the state; 179 fungi were isolated, identified, and tested for pathogenicity. Of the fungi identified, 46 (26%) were Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, 37 (21 %) were Cochliobolus sativus, and 55 (31%) were Fusarium species of wh ich 37 (21%) were Fusarium oxysporum. Other fungi identified that were pathogenic on wheat were Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Pythium spp. G. g. var. tritici was the main pathogen associated with diseased root and lower stem tissue of wheat in Albama.