EFFECT OF WINTER-WHEAT CULTIVAR AND DIFENOCONAZOLE SEED TREATMENT ON DWARF BUNT

Four hard red and four soft white winter wheat cultivars (Triticum aes tivum) of varying susceptibility to dwarf bunt (Tilletia controversa) were evaluated with and without difenoconazole seed treatment at 0.24 g a.i./kg. Difenoconazole provided complete control of dwarf bunt rega rdless of cultivar susceptibility. Percent winter kill was less among cultivars treated with difenoconazole in 1993. Winter wheat yields of difenoconazole treated and nontreated cultivars were similar in 1992, but average yields of treated cultivars were 21% greater in 1993, impr oving adjusted gross returns by $147/ha.