To assess the principal causes of erect heads in April sown wheat crops

Individual objectives specific to the trial are:
- To determine the value of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) tolerance in HRZ wheat crops using a tolerant (cv Manning) and a non-tolerant (cv RGT Relay) cultivar.
- To assess the connection between erect heads and stem base disease complex e.g. crown rot, eyespot, sharp eyespot in the presence of different stem base fungicide applications.

• The long season UK wheat RGT Relay out yielded Manning but none of the treatments of insecticide or fungicide produced any significant difference in grain yield.
• There were clear indications that symptoms of BYDV were present in the RGT Relay that were not present in the BYDV tolerant variety Manning, but these differences did not result in a yield effect.
• BYDV like symptoms became more apparent in the canopy as the crop began to grain fill with less BYDV observed in the insecticide treated plots in RGT Relay (non-tolerant).
• Little or no BYDV like symptoms were observed in the Manning.
• There was no significant expression of erect heads in this trial or significant differences in erect head numbers.
• ELISA testing confirmed Cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV-prv) presence but not Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV-pav).

Rotation position: 1st Cereal after canola, 2018 wheat.
Soil type & management: Neutral-slightly alkaline Organosol (Peat soil) – high organic matter (0-30cm).