The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-01-19

found on wild grasses and those on
cereals. The matter Is found to ID
somewhat complex. There can be no
doubt that the grasses have a marked
influence on the prevalence of rust,
and that wheat rust epidemlcs are con.
siderably promoted by the common
wild grasses. The different rusts are
found. however only on certain kinds
of grasses and these relationships. to-
gether with the possible effect of the
grasses on the vlrulence of an cpl.
demic. are now being investigated.
Rusted Seed.
Another extremely important ques-
ton under investigation is that of
rust in the seed. 1t has been known
for some time that in badly-rusted
fields the rust If often present even
on the tips of the wheat seeds. 1t has
been thought by some that this rust
might be transmitted by the seed to the
young seeding and thus start the cpl
demic again in the following spring.
Evidence from field and greenhouse
experiments conducted up to the pres
ent time does not support this view,
but conclusive evidence is dependent
on further investigation.
AS far as Is known at the present
time it is safe to take seed from a
rusted field. 1t is necessary. however,
that the lightweight, shrunken kerr
nels be removed and only the heaviest
seed obtainabe used from such
field. Much of the wheat from this
years crop is of very poor quality,
and should be thoroughly famed and
screened. Special effort should be
made this year to provide for good
seed wheat for next year. Germina-
ton tests, of course, should be made.
Cooperative Work.
A number of state experiment sta
tons are vitality interested in the rust
work and are cooperating with the
cereal pathologist of the department.
| The stripe rust in the western states,
| It's distribution and occurrence, togeth-
er with its life history and varietal re-
Iations, are at present under investi-
cation.
There is also considerable co-opera-
tive work being done on the variety
| testing and breeding of cereals for rust
resistance. The major portion Of this
work Is devoted to wheat, but oats Is
also receiving some attention. In this
work rust nurseries are maintained at
four experiment stations where each
year an artificial epidemic is secured.
thus allowing for continuous rust rec
ords on any given variety, and also In
surfing the most severe rust conditions
possible. Work on spring wheat is In
progress at the Minnesota station at
the Iowa station on spring oats; at the
Kansas station on soft winter wheats !;
and at the Tennessee station on soft
winter wheats and winter oats. The
field trials on rust resistance are sup
plemented by greenhouse tests, whers
both Seeding and mature plants are
artificially inoculated with rust and
degree of infection noted.
Testing and Breeding.
The results on the variety testing
for resistance up to the present time
have demonstrated several general
facts. None of the common, or So
called bread spring wheats, is to any
useful degree immune to the stem
rust attack. The most commonly
grown of these susceptible varieties
of spring wheats are the Flies, Blue
stems, and bearded wheats, including
such varieties as Marquis, Power Fife
Haynes Bluestem, Prelude and Pres
ton. On the other hand, 1t has beer
, abundantly demonstrated that certain
!, varieties of durum and emmer are ex
/ tremely resistant to the rust in con
, trast to the common spring wheatS
, This fact has been very clearly dem
{ onstrated in the rust epidemic of the
, past season, where the common
t wheats, as well as many varieties OF
durum wheats were very heavily rust
ed, while other adjacent rows of du
rum wheat were practically clean o.
: rust. In the field many farmers suf
; fered severe loss in their durum croI
on account of the rust, while Others
: obtained yields of two to three times
S as many bushels of better grade whea
/ than was obtained from the common
f bread wheats in the same vicinity
t This demonstrates very strongly tn
: necessity for planting, where durun
t wheat is successfully grown, only tn
s resistant types.
n Fertilizers and Rusts.
The results, obtained particularly q
> the Minnesota station in determinin
Il the effect of artificial fertilizers o
i rusts indicate that soil fertilizers d
not play an important part either TO
or against resistance in a real feel
e epidemic, and that as factor in farr
l. practice, the relations between the al
e plication of commercial fertilizers an
1t the rust can largely be disregardes
n 1t seems highly improbable that an
y, control of rust through the applies
IS ton of any reasonable amount of con
Sc mercial fertilizers can ever be hope
n for.
n Control Measures.
y 1t is we'll known that seed treatmer
has no effect on the rust. Soil trea
II ment Is also almost ineffective, exceI
Y insofar as good soil practice will p,
II the seedbeG in the best condition an