Diseases

Powdery mildew of oats

Avena sativa L.

A fungal disease of common oats caused by the specialized form of the ascomycete Blumeria graminis f. sp. avenae. It manifests as a white, web-like coating on plant organs, which reduces the intensity of photosynthesis and grain yield by 10–20% or more.

In the reference 176 varieties crop Oat, where this is mentioned in the description.

The pathogen infects plants at early developmental stages, forming matte spots on leaf sheaths that transform into a loose white coating. During the growing season, the coating densifies into cotton-like pads on leaves and stems, and by maturity, it acquires a dirty-gray hue and becomes covered with black dots — cleistothecia. The infection leads to the destruction of chlorophyll, reduced tillering, and a slowdown in the overall growth of the crop.

The pathogen is characterized by high physiological specialization and the presence of numerous races with varying virulence. Genetic resistance to powdery mildew in cultivated oats is limited and controlled by four dominant genes. For the breeding of new varieties, resistance sources from wild species such as Avena barbata, Avena strigosa, and Avena hirtula are actively utilized.

General information about the subject — on the page Powdery mildew.

Sources8

Varieties of Oat mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.