Control of blind seed disease (Gloeotinia temulenta) in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) seed crops and implications for endophyte transmission

In three field trials fungicides used for stem rust (Puccinia graminis) control were evaluated to assess the effect on levels of blind seed disease, seed germination and endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) transmission. Blind seed disease infection was reduced from 24% to 5% in one of the three trials undertaken and germination was increased by between 17 and 23% in two trials. There was a negative linear correlation between germination percentage and blind seed disease percentage (R 2 =0.57). Endophyte transmission was either reduced or unchanged with fungicide treatment. While the highest level of germination were achieved when Proline fungicide was used; the optimum balance between germination, blind seed and AR37 endophyte transmission was from using Folicur-based demethylation inhibitor fungicide programmes. Additional keywords: germination, AR37, fungicide