Wild grass identified as source of barley disease

A disease found in wild grass has been identified as a source of leaf blotch, a fungal pathogen that can destroy large crops of barley.

Barley, a key ingredient in beer and whisky production, can have leaves and stems damaged by leaf blotch, which can also decrease grain quality and reduce crop yields by up to 40%.

Scientists at the University of Hertfordshire have been studying the disease and professor Bruce Fitt has said that research shows the fungal pathogen that causes leaf blotch can be found on wild rye grasses. These grasses are commonly found growing in and around barley fields.

The Herts Advertiser reported that professor Fitt said: “Crops that appear to be clear of disease can suddenly develop leaf blotch symptoms unexpectedly.

“If this pathogen species can be spread from wild grasses onto barley crops and back again, further investigation is needed to identify how widespread this species is and also the role that wild grasses play as sources of disease for other crops such as wheat.”

Around 6.5 million tonnes of barley is grown in the UK every year, with about two million tonnes used in the brewing and distillation trades.

The fungal pathogen has been studied in a project funded by the Perry Foundation.

Findings have been published in a paper co-authored by Kevin King and Jon West, both from Rothamsted Research in Harpenden, Patrick Brunner, of ETH Zürich University, Paul Dyer of the University of Nottingham and Prof Fitt.