Yellow rust (Puccinia striiformisWestend.) of barley in England, 1960–65

Abstract
Yellow rust of barley has been observed more frequently at Cambridge in the period 1960-65 than the previous five years. The disease occurs in most parts of England but appears to be prevalent and more damaging in the south and west of the country. The increased incidence of the disease is probably associated both with the greatly increased acreage of barley now being grown and with the introduction of more susceptible barley varieties.Two isolates ofPuccinia striiformisdiffering in virulence characteristics have been found to be representative of the population of the pathogen in England. These isolates are similar to, if not identical with, physiologic races 23 and 24 which are widespread in continental Europe.A survey of the seedling resistance toP. striiformisof the currently cultivated barley varieties showed that, of the twelve varieties tested, nine were susceptible to both isolates of the pathogen and three were susceptible to one isolate and resistant to the other. No varieties were resistant to both isolates.