THE INCIDENCE OF CERTAIN SEED‐BORNE DISEASES IN COMMERCIAL SEED SAMPLES

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Abstract
Samples of commercial wheat seed submitted to the Official Seed Testing Station, Cambridge, have been examined from 1918 to 1957 for the presence of bunt balls (Tilletia caries (DC.) Tul.) and earcockles (Anguina tritici (Stein.) Filipjev) and the incidence of these organisms is reported.The highest proportion of contaminated samples was found in 1921 (33% with bunt balls and 9% with earcockles). Since then incidence has decreased rapidly and is now steady at less than 1% with bunt balls and nil or less than 0.1% with earcockles. Low bunt‐contamination was confirmed by finding no bunt spores in 122 samples in 1957.The survey illustrates the effective control and almost complete elimination of a seed‐borne disease and pest in the United Kingdom.No seasonal effect on the incidence of either pathogen was found nor was any varietal susceptibility to bunt detected.

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