varietal resistance in winter wheat to the 
ROSETTE DISEASE 1 
By R. W. Webb, Assistant Pathologist, and C. E. Leighty, Agronomist, Office of 
Cereal Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agri¬ 
culture, G. H. Dungan, Associate in Crop Production, Illinois Agricultural Exper¬ 
iment Station, and J. B. Kendrick, Assistant in Botany, Indiana Agricultural 
Experiment Station 
INTRODUCTION 
It is known that heavy crop losses due to the rosette disease of wheat 
can be avoided by the use of resistant varieties and selections, as shown 
by McKinney, 2 from experiments conducted during the crop years 1919-20 
and 1920-21. Certain varieties, notably Early May and Turkey, were 
found to be apparently free from the rosette symptoms, while Harvest 
Queen (known also as Red Cross and Salzer’s Prizetaker) and Illini Chief 
showed an exceedingly high percentage of the disease. 
The experiments were continued in the crop year 1921-22, when over 
200 varieties and selections 3 of winter wheat from all parts of the United 
States were tested by the Office of Cereal Investigations, Bureau of Plant 
Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with 
the Illinois and Indiana Agricultural Experiment Stations. It is the 
purpose of this paper to present briefly the data thus obtained. 
METHODS OF EXPERIMENTATION 
The varietal experiments reported in this paper were conducted during- 
the crop year 1921-22 near Granite City, Ill., and near Wanatah, Ind., 
on as uniformly infested land as it was possible to obtain. The methods 
employed at both stations were essentially the same, and one description 
will serve for both, exceptions being noted when they occur. 
During the early autumn the soil was deeply plowed and thoroughly 
harrowed. In Indiana the sowing was started on September 29, 1921, 
and in Illinois on October 8, 1921. Furrows were opened by means of 
a wheel hoe, the grain sown by hand at the rate of 1 gram per linear 
foot, and covered with a rake. The varieties were sown in single rows 
8 inches apart and 1 rod long. The seed for most of the varieties was 
supplied by the Office of Cereal Investigations. Other varieties, used only 
at Wanatah, Ind., were supplied by the Indiana Agricultural Experiment 
Station. A susceptible variety, Harvest Queen, was sown in every tenth 
row throughout the series to serve as a control on the uniformity of 
infestation of the soil. Seed of this variety was obtained from a field 
free from the rosette disease. 
This susceptible variety will hereafter be called Harvest Queen. It is 
awnless and has white, glabrous chaff and red kernels. It is sometimes 
called Red Cross, sometimes Harvest Queen, and is known locally in 
Madison County, Ill., as Salzer’s Prizetaker. All of these appear to be 
1 Accepted for publication Aug. n, 1923. Results of research conducted cooperatively by the Bureau of 
Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, and the Illinois and Indiana Agricultural 
Experiment Stations. 
2 McKinney, H. H. investigations on the rosette disease of wheat and its control. In Jour. 
Agr. Research v. 23, p. 771-800, 2 fig., 8 pi. 1923. literature cited, p. 799-800. 
3 These varieties and selections will hereafter be referred to as “varieties.” 
Journal of Agricultural Research, 
Washington, D. C. 
ahj 
(261) 
Vol. XXVI, No. 6 
Nov. 10, 1923 
Key No. G-334 
