Dynamics of Rhynchosporium secalis pathotypes in relation to barley cultivar resistance

Rhynchosporium secalis isolates E97-2 and H97-2, represented the major pathotypes in populations on barley in Alberta, Canada, but differed widely in their virulence. Following greenhouse co-inoculation with the two pathotypes, E97-2, originally isolated from resistant cv. 'CDC Earl', predominated over H97-2, isolated from the susceptible cv. 'Harrington', from the first to the last of four infection cycles on both 'CDC Earl' and 'Harrington'. These results indicated that the host can rapidly influence pathotype composition and that pathotype E97-2 may have a competitive advantage over H97-2 on these cultivars. DNA polymorphisms were found between isolates from single or mixed inoculations on cvs 'CDC Earl' and 'Harrington' for four successive cycles. Co-inoculation with the two isolates resulted in a shift to a molecular phenotype more similar to E97-2 than H97-2. The competitive advantage of E97-2 over H97-2, combined with the selective pressure exerted by the host, would explain the increased susceptibility of cv. 'CDC Earl' and other cultivars with similar sources of scald resistance, in fields across Alberta. However, H97-2 will likely remain one of the major pathotypes in Alberta due to the relatively large acreage of cv. 'Harrington' in this province.