Role of abiotic factors on the severity of stripe rust of wheat

During last decades, stripe rust has emerged as a major disease of wheat causing considerable yield loss in northern western plain and northern hill zones of India. Considering significant impact of the disease on wheat crop, field experiments were conducted during rabi seasons of 2013 and 2015 to evaluate the effect of different abiotic factors in different varieties (HD 2967, RSP 561, Agra Local and PBW 343) on the progress and spread of the disease as well as development of a predictive model to predict the disease initiation and spread in the field. Statistical analysis of data revealed that existing of low temperature (10–12 °C), high relative humidity (90%) along with intermittent rainfall was found conducive for disease onset. Thermic variables (atmospheric, canopy and soil temperature) along with age of crop in the selected varieties showed significant positive correlation with disease severity. Step-wise regression showed high R² of 0.919, 0.885, 0.967 and 0.956 for the predicative model of stripe rust in RSP 561, HD 2967, Agra Local and PBW 343, respectively.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

Progress in Wheat Resistance to Spot Blotch in Bangladesh

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is considered one of the most destructive diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the warm areas of South Asia. Over the past 20 years, wheat breeding efforts in the region have improved spot blotch resistance in susceptible commercial cultivars. This study assessed resistance and spot blotch‐induced yield losses in newly released wheat cultivars developed in Bangladesh since the release of the landmark wheat variety ‘Kanchan’. Replicated field studies were conducted during the 2003 and 2004 wheat seasons at two sites: a farmer's field and a research station in a warm region of Bangladesh where spot blotch has been a serious problem. Spot blotch affected 60% of the crop and caused yield losses of from 2% to 22%. Disease severity and disease‐induced grain yield reductions were less in wheat genotypes developed since 1983, with a corresponding trend towards higher yield in newly developed varieties. The level of resistance to spot blotch in the new cultivars and advanced breeding lines represents considerable progress in breeding for resistance over the past two decades.     

Effect of yellow rust on yield components of barley cultivars with race-specific and slow rusting resistance to yellow rust

Yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei is an important disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in some parts of the world. We compared the effectiveness of different types of resistance in field plots at Ardabil Agricultural Research Station (Iran) during 2010–2011. Yield components along with slow rusting parameters including final rust severity (FRS), apparent infection rate (r), relative area under disease progress curve (rAUDPC) and coefficient of infection (CI) were evaluated for 25 barley cultivars. In all, two barley cultivars with race-specific resistance, 19 cultivars with different levels of slow rusting resistance and four susceptible cultivars were included in two experiments with and without fungicide protection under high disease pressure. Barley cultivars with slow rusting resistance displayed a range of severity responses indicating phenotypic diversity. Mean thousand kernels weight (TKW) losses for susceptible, race-specific and slow rusting genotypes were 31, 3 and 12%, respectively, and mean kernels per spike (KPS) losses for susceptible, race-specific and slow rusting genotypes were 19, 0.2 and 8%, respectively. Correlation coefficient of mean TKW and KPS losses with epidemiological parameters; rAUDPC, r, CI and FRS were highly significant. Slow rusting cultivars with low values of different parameters as well as genotypes with low yield component losses despite moderate disease levels were identified. Such genotypes can be used for breeding barely genotypes with high levels of resistance and negligible yield losses.     

Evaluation of the Single Tillers Method for Yield Loss Assessment in Wheat Under Israeli Conditions

A method for estimating disease induced yield losses by using single wheat tillers as experimental units was evaluated under commercial field conditions. Natural epidemics of Septoria tritici blotch, yellow rust and leaf rust which developed late in the season had no effect on the vegetative growth of the host, but caused only reduced kernels weight. The optimal sample size was determined experimentally to be 300 tillers. Losses were also estimated in the same experiments using field plots as experimental units. Yield loss estimates derved from using single tillers were significantly correlated with those derived from using field plots. The relationship between disease and yield varied significantly among fields, even in a given year, region and cultivar. Thus, it was concluded that this relationship has to be established empirically wherever yield losses are to be estimated, and that under Israeli conditions it may be done by using the single tillers method.     

Growth Variation Among Hybrid Poplar Varieties in Michigan,USA and the Implications for Commercial Biomass Production.

Variability in biomass yield among 13 varieties of Populus hybrids was examined during a 7-year rotation in a network of 4 field trials in Michigan, USA. Seventh-year yield varied by site, averaging from 15.1 Mg ha^?1 in the north to 35.2 Mg ha^?1 in the south. Yield varied among varieties, ranging from 3.0 Mg ha^?1 for DN70 in the north to 52.9 Mg ha^?1 for NM2 in the south. Yield was most strongly correlated with growing season temperatures and rainfall but less with edaphic factors throughout the network. Twenty-eight percent of the total variation in individual tree weight was due to location effects and another 28% was due to genetic factors, including strong genotype by environment interactions. Even though each 64-tree plot comprised genetically identical clones, the remaining 44% of total observed variation among trees occurred within these plots. Five varieties that performed well throughout the network were identified as an elite cohort for general commercial use throughout the region. This cohort yielded as much as 50% more biomass than random selections. Certain varieties did well at one location while not at others because of strong genotype by environment interactions. Locally chosen elite cohorts produced as much as 5% more biomass than the regional elite cohort. Varietal ranking did change over time but it was possible to reliably identify the regional cohort after 3 years and local cohorts after 4 years. Local, long-term testing of Populus hybrids will be necessary to optimize commercial biomass yields and thereby maximize financial returns to growers.     

Fine Mapping of RppP25, a Southern Rust Resistance Gene in Maize

Southern rust (Puccinia polysora Underw.) is a major disease that can cause severe yield losses in maize (Zea mays L.). In our previous study, a major gene RppP25 that confers resistance to southern rust was identified in inbred line P25. Here, we report the fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of RppP25 from the near-isogenic line F939, which harbors RppP25 in the genetic background of the susceptible inbred line F349. The inheritance of resistance to southern rust was investigated in the BC₁F₁ and BC₃F₁ populations, which were derived from a cross between F939 and F349 (as the recurrent parent). The 1:1 segregation ratio of resistance to susceptible plants in these two populations indicated that the resistance is controlled by a single dominant gene. Ten markers, including three simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and seven insertion/deletion (InDel) markers, were developed in the RppP25 region. RppP25 was delimited to an interval between P091 and M271, with an estimated length of 40 kb based on the physical map of B73. In this region, a candidate gene was identified that was predicted to encode a putative nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) protein. Two co-segregated markers will aid in pyramiding diverse southern rust resistance alleles into elite materials, and thereby improve southern rust resistance worldwide.     

Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Wheat for Slow Rusting Resistance against Puccinia striiformis Westend. f.sp. tritici

Race‐specific resistance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f.sp. tritici is often short‐lived. Slow‐rusting resistance has been reported to be a more durable type of resistance. A set of sixteen bread wheat varieties along with a susceptible control Morocco was tested during 2004–05 to 2006–07 in field plots at Peshawar (Pakistan) to identify slow rusting genotypes through epidemiological variables including final rust severity (FRS), apparent infection rate (r), area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), average coefficients of infection (ACI) and leaf tip necrosis (LTN). Epidemiological parameters of resistance were significantly (P < 0.01) different for years/varieties in three seasons, while variety × year interactions remained non‐significant. Sequence tagged site (STS) marker, csLV34 analyses revealed that cultivars Faisalabad‐83, Bahawalpur‐95, Suleman‐96, Punjab‐96, Bakhtawar‐93, Faisalabad‐85, Shahkar‐95 and Kohsar‐95 possessed Yr18 linked allele. Faisalabad‐83, Bahawalpur‐95, Suleman‐96, Punjab‐96, Bakhtawar‐93 and Faisalabad‐85 were relatively more stable over 3‐years where FRS, AUDPC and r values reduced by 80, 84 and 70% respectively compared to control Morocco. These six varieties therefore could be exploited for the deployment of Yr18 in breeding for slow rusting in wheat. Both FRS and ACI are suitable parameters for phenotypic selection.     

Reduction of Winter Wheat Yield Losses Caused by Stripe Rust through Fungicide Management

Stripe rust of winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) causes substantial grain yield loss in Central Asia. This study involved two replicated field experiments undertaken in 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 winter wheat crop seasons. The first experiment was conducted to determine grain yield reductions on susceptible winter wheat cultivars using single and two sprays of fungicide at Zadoks growth stages Z61–Z69 in two farmers’ fields in Tajikistan and one farmer's field in Uzbekistan. In the second experiment, four different fungicides at two concentrations were evaluated at Zadoks growth stage Z69. These included three products from BASF – Opus (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha), Platoon (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha) and Opera (0.75 l/ha and 1.5 l/ha) – and locally used fungicide Titul 390 (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha). One and two sprays of fungicides did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in increasing grain yield. Stripe rust reduced grain yield and 1000‐kernel weight (TKW) from 24 to 39% and from 16 to 24%, respectively. The benefits from the two concentrations of the same fungicide did not consistently resulted in significantly higher grain yield, suggesting that the lower concentrations could be more cost effective. Our study provides important information about the selection of fungicides, spray concentrations and number of spray to control stripe rust and increase grain yield. The findings could play an important role in developing stripe rust management approaches such as fungicide rotation and strategic fungicide applications in Central Asian countries.     

Identification and Validation of Molecular Markers Associated with Pachymetra Root Rot and Brown Rust Resistance in Sugarcane Using Map- and Association-based Approaches

Marker-assisted selection for traits that are difficult to screen for, such as resistance to many sugarcane diseases, has the potential to facilitate the development of improved cultivars in sugarcane. Pachymetra root rot (PRR) and brown rust resistance ratings were obtained over two years for 192 I1 progeny (progeny produced by two heterozygous, non-inbred parental lines) of a sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) cross between two elite sugarcane clones, Q117 and 74C42. Approximately 1000 single-dose markers, including microsatellite (SSR), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers, were scored across the population and maps containing approximately 400 markers were constructed for each parent. At p ≤ 0.01, two genomic regions, one from the female Q117 map and a different region from the 74C42 male map, plus an unlinked bi-parental simplex marker (single-dose marker present in both parents) were identified as associated with PRR over both years of data collection. These regions explained between 6 and 16% of the phenotypic variation. An additional region was identified in the female map as associated with PRR at p ≤ 0.01 in one year and p ≤ 0.05 in the second year. This region explained between 4 and 8% of the phenotypic variation. For brown rust, two genomic regions, one from the female map and one from the male map, plus an unlinked marker from both maps, were identified as associated with brown rust resistance at p ≤ 0.01 over two years of phenotypic data. Each region explained between 7 and 18% of the phenotypic variation. Several additional regions were identified in both maps as associated with brown rust at p ≤ 0.01 in one year and p ≤ 0.05 in the second year. These regions also explained between 5 and 11% of the phenotypic variation. To validate these markers and determine whether they would be useful in alternative germplasm, markers from each genomic region associated with PRR or brown rust were screened across a set of 154 elite sugarcane clones; PRR and brown rust ratings were available for 131 and 72 of the clones, respectively. For PRR, three of the 6 markers tested remained significantly associated (p ≤ 0.01) with resistance ratings in the elite clone set. For brown rust, only one of the seven markers tested remained significantly associated (p ≤ 0.01) with resistance in the elite clone set, with one other marker associated at p ≤ 0.05. These results suggest that these markers could be broadly effective in selecting for PRR and/or brown rust resistance in sugarcane breeding programs.     

Effect of Growth Stage and Initial Inoculum Level on Leaf Rust Development and Yield Loss Caused by Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici

The effects of the combinations of leaf rust inoculation at different growth stages and initial inoculum levels on leaf rust development and yield of winter wheat cultivars, McNair 1003 and Coker 762 were evaluated. Disease onset stage and initial inoculum level affected the rate of leaf rust development and shape of the disease progress curves in both cultivars. Epidemics with common onset stages and different initial inoculum levels differed in area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Leaf rust epidemics initiated at Feeke's growth stages 5, 7, and 10 reduced yield in both cultivars. Leaf rust epidemics initiated early with high inoculum levels had the greatest deleterious effect on yield. Maximum losses due to leaf rust were 30–40 %. Yield loss was directly related to AUDPC when the AUDPC varied from 500 to 1700 in McNair 1003 and from 250 to 1700 in Coker 762. Yield reduction was mainly due to reduction in grain weight.     

Partial replacement of local common bean mixtures by high yielding angular leaf spot resistant varieties to conserve local genetic diversity while increasing yield

The effect of replacing proportions of local farmer bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) mixtures with varieties resistant to angular leaf spot on grain yield was evaluated under local disease pressure in the Kivu region of Zaire. Local bean mixtures in on-station and in multi-locational trials containing respectively 25%, or 50% of Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) breeding lines BAT76, or A285, resistant to angular leaf spot yielded significantly more than the local mixture alone. Yields exceeded expected values in three seasons of on-station testing and in two seasons of multi-locational trials. Yield over the expected was found to be a property of new mixtures not protected with fungicide and were attributed to disease control. Relative to expected yields non-protected farmer mixture components performed 17% and 16% better than in protected plots and A285 components yielded 24% and 16% better at respectively 25% and 50% A285 supplementation levels. A285 increased yields of the local mixture components and benefitted from the local mixture when not protected by fungicide. Yield increases in multi-locational trials were largely attributed to the higher yield potential of the resistant variety A285, although angular leaf spot severity was significantly reduced. It was concluded that high yielding, resistant varieties were able to increase bean yield in the region, but probably at a substantial cost in genetic diversity in farmer bean mixtures. That said, a partial replacement strategy is preferable to strategies which encourage complete replacement of local germplasm with one or few high yielding varieties.     

Heterosis breeding in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Studies conducted at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) during 1980 and 1981 have shown up to 73% heterosis, 59% heterobeltiosis and 34% standard heterosis for yield in rice. The latter was estimated in comparison to commercial varieties: IR36 and IR42 (yield 4–5 t/ha in wet season trials and 7–8 t/ha in dry season trials). Generally speaking, absolute yield was lower and extent of standard heterosis was higher in wet season than in dry season with some exception. Yields up to 5.9 t/ha (22% standard heterosis) in the wet season and 10.4 t/ha (34% standard heterosis) in the dry season were obtained. Most of the hybrids performed better in some season while some performed better in both seasons. Hybrids showed better lodging resistance although they were 5–10 cm taller. F₁ hybrids had significant positive correlations with the parental traits viz., yield (r = 0.446), tillering (r = 0.746), height (r = 0.810) and flowering (r = 0.843). Selection of parents among elite breeding lines on the basis of their per se yield performance, diverse origin and resistance to insects and diseases should give heterotic combination. Yield advantage of hybrids was due primarily to increase in number of spikelets per unit area even though tiller number was reduced. Grain weight was either the same or slightly higher. High yielding hybrids also showed significant heterosis and heterobeltiosis for total dry matter and harvest index. For commercial utilization of heterosis in rice, effective male sterility and fertility restoration systems are available and up to 45% natural outcrossing on male sterile lines has been observed. Consequently, F₁ rice hybrid have been successfully developed and used in China. Prospects of developing hybrid rice varieties elsewhere appear bright especially in countries that have organized seed production, certification and distribution programs and where hybrid seed can be produced at a reasonable cost.     

Stripe Rust Partial Resistance Increases Spring Bread Wheat Yield in South‐eastern Anatolia,Turkey

Stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici is the most serious disease of wheat globally including south‐eastern Anatolia of Turkey, where wheat originated. In this study, 12 spring wheat genotypes were artificially inoculated and preserved in two locations, Diyarbak?r and Ad?yaman, during the 2011–2012 season to investigate loss in yield and yield components. Genotypes were evaluated at the adult plant stage using two partial resistance parameters: final disease severity and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). AUDPC ranged from 14.8 to 860 in Diyarbak?r, and 74 to 760 in Ad?yaman. Yield loss ranged from 0.6 to 68.5% in Diyarbak?r and 9.8 to 56.8% in Ad?yaman. Genotypes G1, G5, G7 and G8 were found to lose less yield, while higher yield loss was observed in G3, G4 (Nurkent), G5 and G9 (Karacada?‐98). The highest loss in thousand kernel weight was observed in a susceptible cultivar Karacada?‐98 in Diyarbak?r followed by 43.4 and 24.4% in Ad?yaman. Test weight loss reached 8.89% in Diyarbak?r and 20.8% in Ad?yaman. Yield loss and AUDPC had a positive significant relationship. Based on the values of AUDPC, final disease severity and yield loss, three major clusters were formed for 12 wheat genotypes. Partially resistant genotypes were found to lose less grain yield and seemed to be stronger against severe stripe rust pressure.     

2003-2013年小麦品种(系)抗条锈性鉴定及评价

2003-2013年在甘肃省农业科学院植物保护研究所兰州温室和甘谷试验站,分别对来自国内35个相关育种单位的冬春小麦品种(系)5001份,其中冬小麦4291份、春小麦710份,进行苗期混合菌、成株期分小种和混合菌抗条锈性接种鉴定,结果表明:全生育期表现免疫近免疫的有兰天31号等479份,高抗的有兰天23号等76份,中抗的有天选49等291份,分别占9.58％、1.52％和5.82％;成株期表现免疫近免疫的有天选50号等840份,高抗的有兰天27号等47份,中抗的有天选52等311份,分别占16.80％、0.94％和6.22％;苗期表现免疫近免疫的有兰天30号等964份,高抗的有天98102等122份,中抗的有00-30等273份,分别占19.28％、2.44％和5.46％.冬小麦有天选49号等914份材料表现全生育期抗病,占18.28％;有97-473等906份成株期表现抗病,占18.12％;有兰天20号等1225份苗期表现抗病,占24.50％.春小麦有定西41号等113份材料全生育期表现抗病,占2.26％;有陇春28号等125份成株期表现抗病,占2.50％;有0109-1等114份苗期对混合菌表现抗病,占2.28％.先后在甘肃天水汪川良种场对相关材料进行成株期抗条锈性评价,结果发现:1154份从小种圃筛选出的抗病材料中,表现抗病的有兰天31号等745份,占64.56％;105份甘肃陇南生产品种中,到2013年表现抗病的仅有兰天28号、中梁31号等30份材料,占28.57％;后备品系中,00-30-2-1、CP04-20、00127-2-3等抗性表现优异;抗源材料中,仅有贵农775、中四、T.Spelta albun、贵协1、贵协3等少数材料表现抗病,重要抗源材料贵农21、贵农22、南农92R、川麦42、Moro从2011年开始在田间表现感病,逐步失去利用价值.其衍生系品种材料如陇鉴9343、天选43号、中梁29号、兰天17号、兰天24号等也在田间逐步感病,条锈病发生流行压力持续增大.     

QTL mapping of slow-rusting, adult plant resistance to race Ug99 of stem rust fungus in PBW343/Muu RIL population

Races of stem rust fungus pose a major threat to wheat production worldwide. We mapped adult plant resistance (APR) to Ug99 in 141 lines of a PBW343/Muu recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population by phenotyping them for three seasons at Njoro, Kenya in field trials and genotyping them with Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers. Moderately susceptible parent PBW343 and APR parent Muu displayed mean stem rust severities of 66.6 and 5 %, respectively. The mean disease severity of RILs ranged from 1 to 100 %, with an average of 23.3 %. Variance components for stem rust severity were highly significant (p < 0.001) for RILs and seasons and the heritability (h ²) for the disease ranged between 0.78 and 0.89. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis identified four consistent genomic regions on chromosomes 2BS, 3BS, 5BL, and 7AS; three contributed by Muu (QSr.cim-2BS, QSr.cim-3BS and QSr.cim-7AS) and one (QSr.cim-5BL) derived from PBW343. RILs with flanking markers for these QTLs had significantly lower severities than those lacking the markers, and combinations of QTLs had an additive effect, significantly enhancing APR. The QTL identified on chromosome 3BS mapped to the matching region as the known APR gene Sr2. Four additional QTLs on chromosomes 1D, 3A, 4B, and 6A reduced disease severity significantly at least once in three seasons. Our results show a complex nature of APR to stem rust where Sr2 and other minor slow rusting resistance genes can confer a higher level of resistance when present together.     

Effectiveness of indirect selection for wheat yield in a stress environment

 Effectiveness of indirect selection for grain yield was investigated among eight bread wheat lines, selected in a stress environment in the East African Highlands, where they showed a wide response to yellow rust, the biotic factor causing the stress. The lines were intercrossed to give an 8×8F₁ diallel, which was grown in this same environment for three consecutive growing seasons during 1994 and 1995. Half of the last trial was sprayed with fungicide. From the estimates of narrow-sense heritabilities for yield and yellow rust severity, and the genetic correlation between them, indirect selection for yield in the unsprayed plots, obtained by choosing the most resistant 5% of this material was, on average, 12% higher than selecting for yield itself. In the fungicide-treated plots, indirect selection was only 73% as efficient as direct selection. The implications of these results for selecting for yield in stress environments are discussed. Received: 10 April 1998 / Accepted: 5 August 1998     

A survey of foliar diseases of spring barley in England and Wales in 1967

A total of 5,250 acres of spring barley was sampled in proportion to the barley acreage in each of eight regions. The percentage leaf area ‘affected’ by each disease was recorded for the first (flag) and second leaves at a growth stage when the grain was milky ripe. The operation was automated by punching the data directly on to computer paper tape and a programme was written to analyse the results. Mildew was found to be the most important disease, causing an average loss in yield of approximately 18 %, followed in descending order by brown rust 3%, leaf blotch 1 %, yellow rust 1 %, halo spot 1 %. The total loss due to foliar diseases was estimated to be 20–25% of the national barley yield. Diseases were more severe in the southern than northern regions, e.g. mildew severity was three times higher because of the greater popularity of mildew-susceptible varieties, and the prevalence of weather more conducive to mildew development. Disease severity was not related to previous cropping, and in general the February-sown crops had more mildew than the April-sown crops.     

Diagrammatic scale for severity evaluation of the Eremanthus erythropappus–Puccinia velata pathosystem

Candeia (Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish), a native forest species from South America, has garnered commercial interest due to its production of essential oil that contains alpha-bisabolol. This compound is widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, with approximately 80% of Brazilian production being exported. Since candeia rust (Puccinia velata) has only been reported in Brazil, little is known about its epidemiology and control. There is no methodology to quantify rust severity in candeia, justifying the elaboration and validation of a diagrammatic scale containing eight levels of disease severity based on leaf area coverage (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 16% and 32%). In a natural sampling of disease in the field, 95% of the leaves showed severity below 16%, with the remaining 5% showing severities between 16% and 32% of leaf area. Validation of the proposed diagrammatic scale was performed by assessing the results from 10 inexperienced evaluators, performing evaluations of three leaves with different severity levels. The evaluations were performed at 7-day intervals; in the first instance, severity values were assigned without the diagrammatic scale, and for the second attempt, the scale proposed in this study was used. The accuracy and precision of the severity estimates produced by each evaluator compared to the real severity was analysed by linear regression and by Lin's statistics. The reproducibility of the estimates was evaluated by analysing the coefficient of determination of linear regressions by pairs of evaluators. The scale provided adequate levels of accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility, indicating the proposed scale was a suitable method for quantifying the severity of candeia rust.