Prospects for fungicidal control of take-all of wheat

A range of fungicides and herbicides was tested against Gaeumannomyces graminis (causal agent of take-all) on agar plates, and on wheat seedlings in pots and in liquid culture. Benomyl, the standard in all tests, was consistently most effective: like iprodione, nuarimol and KWG 0599 , it diminished infection from inoculum placed just below the seeds more effectively when applied as a drench than as a soil-mix. Benomyl as a soil-mix was most effective in soils with least organic matter. Some compounds toxic to the pathogen on agar plates and in plants grown in liquid culture were ineffective as soil treatments. The practical limitations of soil treatment with conventional fungicides and application methods are discussed.