Artificially applied late-terminal drought stress in the field differentially affects Ramularia leaf spot disease in winter barley

Abstract Ramularia leaf spot disease (RLS) is one of the most dominating fungal diseases in barley. The typically appears late season after flowering and results a rapid loss photosynthetic area. A recent decline fungicide efficacy lack RLS-resistant cultivars hamper effective control. Global warming will provoke increasing droughts which influence host plant physiology probably affect outbreak severity RLS. Relatively little known about genetic resistance to RLS winter barley various weather conditions climate change on pathogenesis. Hence, we evaluated 15 genotypes under persistent late-terminal drought stress or controlled irrigation, respectively, field rainout shelter. Over three consecutive years, observed reproducible differences quantitative used variable suppression drought. Our support function barley, but also reveal strong year effects even semi-controlled shelter conditions. Data may be relevant for genotype selection breeding programmes farmers frame integrated management changing climate. Graphical abstract