First Report of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Race 5 from North America

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is an important foliar disease of wheat worldwide. The fungus produces two distinct symptoms, necrosis (nec) and chlorosis (chl), on susceptible wheat genotypes. Fungal isolates have been grouped into five races based on their ability to induce necrosis and/or chlorosis on differentials Glenlea, Katepwa, 6B365, and Salamouni (1). Moreover, the isolates were designated on their ability to induce necrosis and chlorosis as follows: nec+chl+ (necrosis and chlorosis), nec+chl- (necrosis only), nec-chl+ (chlorosis only), and nec-chl- (neither symptom). Races 3 and 5 induce extensive chlorosis (nec-chl+) on 6B365 and Katepwa, respectively. Race 5 was reported on durum from North Africa. Races 1 to 4 were described from North America (1,2). During 1998, a survey of durum fields was conducted in the primary durum-growing area of North Dakota to assess the virulence pattern of P. tritici-repentis. Fifty-two single-spore isolates were obtained from diseased leaves. The isolates were evaluated for their virulence by inoculating them individually onto 15 seedlings of each wheat differential in the greenhouse. Forty-nine of 52 isolates were grouped as race 1 (nec+chl+) and three isolates, obtained from the Langdon Experiment Research Station, were grouped as race 5 (nec-chl+). Race 5 isolates were evaluated three times and consistently induced extensive chlorosis on Katepwa. This is the first report of the occurrence of race 5 outside of North Africa. This race may threaten wheat in the United States, so cultivars and germplasm should be evaluated for resistance. More isolates are under investigation to obtain a comprehensive virulence pattern of the pathogen population in the United States. References: L. Lamari and C. C. Bernier. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 11:49, 1989; (2) L. Lamari et al. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 17:312, 1995.