Observations on the prevalence and incidence of ergot disease in Great Britain with special reference to open‐flowering male‐sterile cereals

Abstract

SUMMARYErgot (Claviceps purpurea) of grasses is prevalent throughout Britain. The disease also occurs regularly in most cereal varieties but generally is of low incidence. Incidence is much greater in open‐flowering and male‐sterile cereals, with the infection seeming to come, initially, from the large reservoir of inoculum amongst grasses. The production of F1‐hybrid cereal seed, which necessitates the use of male‐sterile lines, could therefore be jeopardised.