SS SS res 
28 BULLETIN 1347, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Hayes and Stakman (28) have carried out breeding experiments 
with several varieties of barley and have obtained several strains 
which show resistance to the infection by Helminthosporium sativum. 
Since their studies were confined to foliage infection, it is of interest 
to know whether resistance to this type of infection is correlated 
directly with resistance to root and culm infection. So far as known, 
no genetic studies have been reported in connection with the resist- 
ance of wheat to infection by this parasite. 
General control measures may be summarized as follows: 
(1) The use of seed from badly infected fields should be avoided. 
(2) The use of seed Showing much black-point should be avoided. 
(8) The ordinary seed treatments as used for the smuts will kill surface- 
borne spores. 
(4) Late sowing of winter wheat tends to reduce infection. 
(5) Continuous cropping with wheat, rye, and barley should be avoided. 
The indications are that corn, oats, and nongrass crops are safe to include in 
rotations. 
(6) Poorly drained land should be avoided. 
AN UNIDENTIFIED FOOT ROT Eee IN THE PACIFIC COAST- 
During the past five years a foot-rot has appeared in a number 
of wheat fields near Spokane, Wash., and a similar disease has been 
found in the vicinities of La Grande, Oreg., and Red Bluff, Calif. 
After these outbreaks were called to the writer’s attention by pathol- 
ogists and others in the States mentioned, several field observations 
were made and limited experimental studies carried on. However, 
owing to the pressure of other problems it has not been possible to 
develop these investigations to a point which might be desired. 
Preliminary results of some of the cooperative experiments con- 
ducted in Washington have been published (29). 
Although the foot-rot occurring in the three locations just men- 
tioned appears to be distinct from take-all and other foot-rots of 
unknown cause appearing in America, it is possible that it is an 
unusual manifestation of some of these maladies. In some of the 
fields observed plants have been found which show the same symp- 
toms as those produced by Ophiobolus graminis, and it would not be 
surprising if this fungus should later be found to cause at least part 
of the trouble in question. On the other hand, there are indications 
that other fungi may be capable of producing symptoms very similar 
to those produced by O. graminzs, and until studies on other para- 
sites have been completed too great stress should not be placed on 
macroscopic disease characters. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE 
FIELD APPEARANCE 
This foot-rot frequently gives the same general field appearance 
as take-all, but when the attack takes place late in the growing sea- 
son the nearly mature plants show a greater tendency to break over 
at the base, causing large areas of wheat to lodge completely, as 
shown in Plate V, A and B. 
DISEASE SYMPTOMS 
° . ° . ° ° : . . t 
Owing to rather limited studies, it is not possible at this time to 
describe the appearance of seedlings and young plants affected by 
