Prevalence of fungi of the genus Alternaria on rape siliques and seeds depending on weather conditionsWystępowanie grzybów rodzaju Alternaria na łuszczynach i nasionach rzepaku w zależności od warunków pogodowych

Abstract

Summary The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of fungi of the genus Alternaria on siliques and seeds of oilseed rape cultivars depending on weather conditions. The experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute in Winna Gora on winter and spring oilseed rape cultivars. Infection of siliques and seeds with fungi was assessed. Mean relative humidity and temperature of air and amount of precipitation in the maturation period and during harvesting were analyzed. The prevalence of Alternaria blight on siliques and infection of oilseed rape seeds by fungi depended on a cultivar and the growing season. The percentage of infected silique surface area and the percentage of seeds infected with fungi were the highest for spring rape cultivar. A positive correlation between seed infection with fungi and the percentage of infected silique surface area was generally observed. The research results also showed a highly significant correlation between the amount of precipitation, mean relative humidity of air and the percentage of infected silique surface area and the percentage of seeds infected by Alternaria spp. A dozen or so fungus species were distinguished on seeds, and the species A. alternata was the most prevalent.