EVALUATION AND IMPORTANCE OF GENETIC-RESISTANCE TO LEAF STRIPE IN WESTERN-EUROPEAN BARLEYS

Several varieties of spring barley were tested in the greenhouse for r esistance to leaf stripe (Drechslera graminea) following exposure to h igh levels of inoculum in the field, or by using the sandwich inoculat ion method. Pedigree analyses confirmed that most highly resistant var ieties have obtained their resistance from a gene in the landrace Hord eum laevigatum via the variety 'Vada', while the remaining few may hav e it from the donor 'Ricardo', or from the cumulative effect of partia l resistance. Experiments with fungicide seed treatment of 'Golf' and 'Triumph', which represent highly resistant, and susceptible genotypes , respectively, showed that the former always remained healthy, and do es not benefit from seed treatment, whereas the latter requires treatm ent every year to avoid any seed loss.