DISEASE IN WHEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 201, 15 July 1936, Page 9

DISEASE IN WHEAT.

EANGITIIvEI DISTRICT. DEPARTMENTAL STATEMENT. The possibility of an epidemic of loose smut in wheat in the Rangitikei district, similar to that which attacked crops of Major wheat ten years ago in the same area, is the subject of a warning which has been issued by the Palmerston North office of the Department of Agriculture. The statement indicates that ‘‘the incidence of lopso smut is becoming serious” and there are appended the results of an inspection made last season when the wheat was in the ear The grain examined was of the Jumbuck variety, which has been found particularly cuiitable in the Rangitikei area and is also very popular in the Halcombs district and even in the Manawatu district where wheatgrowing is undertaken. The disease replaces the grain in the ear with a loose smut The analysis of the inspections, 23 in number, shows that all the crops except one were regarded as pure Jumbuck variety. The one cro- had shown n trace of the Rasmussen variety and the seed was the second generation from seed procured from the Pure Seed Station. Lincoln. A trace of the disease was evident in that instance. Of the other 22 crops inspected five showed an 8 per cent, infection one 7 per cent., seven 6 per tK V ;. v0 o per cent., four 4 per ceS:: one 2 per cent, and two 1 per el |Airthcr information on the sulv ie /t can be obtained from the local office of the department. _