| Abstract |
Spot blotch is caused by Cochliobolus sativus (anamorph Bipolaris sorokiniana), and is also referred to as Helminthosporium leaf blight or foliar blight. It has long been recognized as a biotic constraint on growing wheat in heat-stressed areas. The risk of spot blotch epidemics is high in areas characterized by average temperatures greater than 17ºC during the coolest months and high relative humidity. In the early years of modern wheat improvement, spot blotch was overlooked because of the focus on leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina. It is now the most damaging foliar wheat disease in the eastern Gangetic plains of South Asia, especially in the rice–wheat cropping system. In South America, spot blotch is a severe constraint in parts of Brazil, Paraguay and the lowlands of Bolivia. |
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