JUNE 1939
STATION BULLETIN 363
Controlling Seed-Borne
Stinking Smut of Wheat
by Disinfectants
RoDEeIcx SPRAGUE
Oregon State System of Higher Education
Agricultural Experiment Station
Oregon State College
Corvallis
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction
Plan of Studies and General Method of Procedure
Influence of Spore Load on the Relative Effectiveness of Certain
Treatments
Influence of the Date of Seeding on the Relative Effectiveness of
Certain Seed Treatments
Influence of Soil-Borne Spores on Relative Effectiveness of Certain
Seed Treatments
Influence of the Length of Storage Period of Treated Grain on
the Relative Efficacy of Certain Seed Treatments
Influence of Soil Type on the Relative Effectiveness of Certain
Seed Treatments
Influence of Unbroken Smut Balls on the Relative Effectiveness of
Certain Seed Treatments
Relative Effectiveness of Various Copper Dusts in Controlling
Stinking Smut
Relative Effectiveness of Miscellaneous Dusts in Controlling
Seed-Borne Stinking Smut
Relative Effectiveness of Certain Seed Treatments for SpringSown Wheat
Relative Effectiveness of Certain Seed Treatments in Controlling
Stinking Smut in Ridit (A Resistant Variety) and the Influence
of These Treatments on Yield
Influence of the Seed Treatments on the Stand of Grain
General Discussion and Recommendations
6
7
9
11
13
19
20
22
25
26
28
29
29
SUMMARY
Most farm seed wheat in Oregon can be made free from smut
by using New Improved Ceresan, to ounce per bushel, or 52
per cent copper carbonate, 50 per cent basic copper sulphate, or
26 per cent copper fungicide at 3 ounces per bushel in winter
wheat and 2 ounces in spring wheat.
A number of factors that influence the effectiveness of the
treatments were studied in the field from 1934 to 1938.
The later wheat is seeded in the fall the greater the chances
for optimum smut development in the plants sprouting in the increasingly cold and moist soil. The 18 to 20 per cent carbonates
were ineffective under these late-fall conditions and even the 52
per cent copper carbonates were somewhat ineffective, although
to a lesser degree than the more dilute copper carbonates. New
Improved Ceresan was effective at increased rates, to 1 ounce,
and basic copper sulphates were fairly effective under late-fall
conditions.
Control of soil-borne smut is difficult and if the spore load is
heavy, control is virtually impossible. Fortunately, soil-borne
smut is much less prevalent than during the days before the com-
bine harvester. The copper dusts at 3 or, better, 4 ounces per
bushel will give some control of soil-borne smut as also will New
Improved Ceresan at 1 ounce per bushel applied just before
seeding.
The length of the storage period between treating and seeding had no effect on the efficacy of the copper dusts, ut New Improved Ceresan gave increased stands over untreated seed, if the
grain was seeded a few days after treating at the f to -ouncè rate
per bushel. After six weeks there was only slight loss in stand
with this treatment, but after a year in storage grain so treated
needed to be seeded about 10 per cent thicker than normal. Wheat
treated at 1 ounce per bushel should be seeded within a week to
prevent reduction in stand but it can be held for several weeks to a
year with comparatively small loss.
Any of the better soils for growing wheat in Oregon are
about equally capable of permitting heavy smut infection. Acid
I
SUMMARYContinued
soils reduce the amount of smut and correspondingly simplify
control. Treatments that weaken germination should be avoided
when the grain is to be seeded in heavy soil.
The presence of unbroken smut balls in seed wheat increases
the difficulty of smut control even if the balls pass through the
drill unbroken. New Improved Ceresan at ounce is not always
effective against large numbers of smut balls, but 1 ounce per
bushel is effective. Under farm practice, from to - ounce will
effectively treat most smut-ball-infested wheat, but where the seed
contains moderate to excess quantities of balls, which is uncommon, from to 1 ounce should be used. Control with copper dusts
was uncertain but fairly effective at 3 ounces per bushel in samples
containing moderate quantities of smut balls. Wet or dip treatments, particularly formaldehyde, gave good control if the balls
were soaked through, while bluestone in 25 per cent 0. S. Vatsol,
a wetter, gave nearly perfect control. The wet treatments, however, endangered germination.
In separate tests with a large number of copper dusts, the
50-per-cent basic copper sulphates and the 52-per-cent copper carbonates gave the best control, with 26-per-cent copper dusts nearly
as effective. A number of the copper dusts were about as effective
as these but were too expensive or had other faults.
Certain arsenical compounds gave good control of seed-borne
smut but are not considered feasible because of their arsenic content and the attendant hazard to operators.
Ridit and other wheats resistant to seed-borne races of smut
should be treated to reduce loss from smut and winter injury attributed to latent smut infection.
Treating seed wheat with the recommended seed disinfectants gave increased stands in from 50 to 90 per cent of the cases.
Smut in spring wheat, which is more easily controlled than in
fall-sown wheat, should be carefully treated in Eastern Oregon,
particularly if it is to be sown early.
Recommendations for Eastern and Western Oregon are given
separately.
Controlling Seed-Borne Stinking
Smut of Wheat by
Disinfectants*
RODER ICE SPSAGUEt
INTRODUCTION
STINKING smut of wheat, which is caused by two closely related fungi,
Tillelia tritici and T. levis, is not as serious in Oregon as it was a generation
ago. This fact has been pointed out recently by Whitlock. Decrease in stink-
ing smut of wheat is due to more universal use of seed treatments, a better
knowledge of the Smut and how to avoid it, and an increasing use of varieties
that are resistant to at least Some of the twenty-odd races of stinking smut now
recognized. When the first varieties of wheat resistant to stinking smut were
introduced to Oregon farmers, the prospects were excellent for early elimination of the problem. Consequently, the interest in seed-treatment research lagged.
It soon became apparent, however, that new races of stinking smut were attacking wheat varieties that formerly had been thought to be highly resistant and
hence that careful seed disinfection of all wheat varieties would be necessary.
Dissatisfaction of Oregon growers with current seed-treatment practices was
responsible for the initiation of these studies. The studies presented in this bulletin were started in the fall of 1934 at Corvallis and at the branch stations at
Mores and Pendleton. The standard treatment at that time was copper carbonate
dust. Both the standard grades, with 50 to 54 per cent copper by weight, and
the dilute with 18 to 20 per cent copper were used. The latter were used in
particularly heavy dosages with resultant fogging and irritation to the worker.
Some growers were returning to the old wet formaldehyde and bluestone treatments with frequent injury to the seed.
More recently, New Improved Ceresan has passed from the trial stage
into extensive use in certain sections in Oregon, particularly in the Willamette
Valley and Central Oregon. Other copper dusts have been introduced by manufacturers so that at present the farmer has the choice of several reliable dust
disinfectants.
Most of the more recently introduced copper-containing dusts being sold in
Oregon are basic copper sulphates. The list of copper dusts being sold for seedtreating purposes in Oregon in November 1938 included the following
1.Copper carbonate containing 52 per cent copper.
2. Copper carbonate containing 18-20 per cent copper.
Cooperative investigations by the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and the
Division of Cereal Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of
Agriculture.
Associate pathologist, Division of Cereal Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant In.
dustry, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Whitlock, Bert W., Smut1- Wheat Receipts Continue Decline. U. S. Department of
Agricultural Ext. Path. Serial No. 35 4-6. Jan. 1939. (Mimeographed)
S
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 363
6
Basic copper sulphate containing approximately 50 per cent copper, sold
tinder such trade names as Acme Smutreat (also a 25 per cent copper
grade), Acme Kopper King, Lucas Coppatone, Mountain basic copper
sulphate, Basi-Cop and Basul, and Tennessee tn-basic copper sulphate.
Basic copper sulphate containing 34 per cent copper, listed as '34' copper
fungicide.
Copper x bas.ic chemical containing about 26 per cent copper. Such prod-
ucts as "Copper Hydro-40," "26 per cent copper fungicide," and socalled copper hydroxides are classed in this group.
Ground bluestonc or copper sulphate is sometimes sold for seed-treating
purposes.
Red copper oxide is sold in Oregon for treating small seeds but is not
used to any extent for treating wheat.
This bulletin presents data on the relative effectiveness, under a variety of
conditions, of all the standard seed treatments sold th Oregon and of a large
number of experimental chemicals, including some that might later be offered
for sale.
PLAN OF STUDIES AND GENERAL METHOD
OF PROCEDURE
In order to effect better control of stinking smut of wheat by seed
treatment, it is necessary to determine the factors that bring about in-
effective control. This study consisted, therefore, of similarly planned experiments designed in each case to determine the influence of some particular climatic or environmental factor on control. The tests included a study
of the effects of the following factors on control:
Spore load on the seed.
Date of seeding.
Soil-borne spores.
Length of storage after treatment.
Unbroken smut balls in seed.
Treatment, with respect to stand and yield.
Most of the studies were made with artificially smutted wheat of the
susceptible variety Hybrid 128 seeded in the fall. The seed was evenly
smutted with a mixture of races of Yule/ia Iritici and T. levis furnished by
C. S. Holton. The smut was added at the rate of one part, by weight, of
finely ground and sifted smut to 200 parts, by weight, of wheat grain. During the first year the rate was 1 to 100, but this proved unnecessary as a
very heavy infection was obtained by the 1 to 200 rate.
Nonvolatile chemicals, such as the copper dusts, were added by weight
to 500-gram samples of seed and evenly mixed in 2-liter flasks. The treated
seed was measured into 6-gram lots and packed in small brown-paper
envelopes for seeding later in 8-foot rows.
Wheat that had been treated with New Improved Ceresan or other
volatile or semigaseous products was not packeted immediately, but the
wheat grain was held for several days in open glass or glazed crockery
containers. As it was found that the paper packets absorbed the fumes of
CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE STINKING SMUT
7
the New Improved Ceresan, the wheat grain so treated was left in clean
nonabsorbent containers for several days, or until near seeding time. It
was found necessary to keep wheat grain that had been treated with New
Improved Ceresan free from possible recontamination. Such wheat seed
after treatment was removed to distant rooms virtually free from smut.
The formaldehyde dip was used at the standard rate of one part of
formaldehyde (commercial 40 per cent) to 320 parts of water, in which the
wheat grain was immersed for 10 minutes in 1934 and for 3 minutes in later
years. Bluestone was used at the rate of 1 pound of copper sulphate to 5
gallons of water, plus 1 pound of salt. This was followed by a lime bath.
The wheat grain was seeded directly from the packets into furrows
made with a wheel hoe and was covered by raking the soil back into the
furrows. All necessary care was used in seeding to avoid contamination of
the wheat grain by tools, wind, or hands. At harvest time, counts of the
percentage of smutted heads in the rows were made. The rows had from 60
to 450 heads per row with the majority having from 160 to 220 heads per
row.
INFLUENCE OF SPORE LOAD ON THE RELATIVE
EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN TREATMENTS
A majority of the studies discussed in this bulletin deal with heavily
smutted seed (1 part, by weight, of smut spores to 200 parts, by weight, of
wheat grain) because it is only by using such seed that the relative merits of
the fungicide are determined. Such wheat, however, is much more heavily
smutted than is wheat grain found under farm conditions. Therefore, trials
were also made with wheat more nearly approaching the degree of contamination found in farm seed wheat.
Method of procedure. Clean field-run Hybrid 128 seed was smutted
with spores of stinking smut at three different rates, by weight; viz., 1-1,800,
1-600, and 1-200. In addition, field-run check rows were added in which only
traces of smut were present. All four lots of seed were handled separately
to avoid contamination of the lighter-smutted lots with the heavier ones.
Each treatment was grown in four rows.
Results and discussion. The data are presented in Table 1. Winter
injury reduced the amount of smut in the trials at both Moro and Pendleton in 1936-37, particularly in the grain smutted at the rate of 1 to 200.
While it is common to obtain 95 per cent smut infection from untreated
smutted wheat seed at Pendleton, the same methods produced only 48.6
per cent at this station during 1936-37. The progeny from heavily smutted
seed had thinner stands and less smut than that from lightly smutted
seed wheat. This indicates that winter injury was more severe in the smutted plants than in the nonsmutted ones.
The amount of smut that developed in the wheat grain from lightly
smutted wheat seed was somewhat greater than is usually developed in
wheat grain from relativelyclean wheat seed (see check), but was no
greater than is encountered at times in wheat grain from smutty wheat
seed on wheat farms where ineffective treatment has been practiced for
several seasons. The control experienced on the lightly smutted grain (1 to
Table 1. Tn RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS ON HYBRID 128 WHEAT SMUTTED AT THE RATES OF 1-200, 1-600, AND 1-1,800, BY WRIGHT,
WITH SIFTED SMUT SFOSLS OF Tilletia tritici AND T. levis.
Treatment used
Smutted lteads grown from wheat grain inoculated with
Cop-
per
Con-
tent
Name
Per
Cent
Smutted, untreated
New Improved
co
New Improved
Ceresan
New Improved
Ceresan
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Basic copper
sulphate
Basic copper
sulphate
Copper 1-Iydro-40
Copper Hydro-40
Field run, untreated
Ounces
Moro
Pendleton
Cor-
valljs
1936-37 1936-37 1937-38
Per
cent
Per
cent
Per
cent
Average
Per
cent
Moro
Pendleton
1936-37 1936-37
Per
cent
Per
cent
Cor-
Average
vallis
1937-38
Per
cent
I
Per
ccItt
56.8
Pendleton
Moro
1936-37 1936-37
Per
cent
I
Per
cent
cent
Heads
172
0.8
2.8
5-5
0.9
3.1
183
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
162
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.3
1.0
0.0
3.6
0.0
8.0
7.3
0.0
2.2
0.2
6.1
3-3
0.0
4.6
2.9
20.0
10.6
162
161
191
182
183
19.6
2.8
8.4
184
5.5
17.3
5.2
7.2
0.4
4.1
3.1
192
172
193
164
44.6
78.6
47.3
0
0,2
0.4
0.0
0,2
0.0
1.8
0.5
0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
2.7
1.3
2,3
0,5
3-4
1.5
7.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0,0
0,7
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.2
1.1
0.0
0.7
0.0
5.0
0,0
0,3
0.0
18
18
2
2
4
2
4
6.2
0.0
0.0
0.5
3.6
2.6
12.0
6.5
41.9
21.9
50
2
0.0
5,1
0.6
1,9
2,3
9.1
0.0
3.8
2.7
50
1.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.5
1.3
5-4
0.3
0.0
0.8
7.5
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
3.3
9.4
0
0,4
0,2
0,2
1.7
2,8
0
0,0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.4
26
26
4
2
4
1.0
Per
cent
52.6
31.9
52
52
Per
1-1,800
dosage
56.1
17.4
0
Average
48.6
45,1
0
Cor-
vallIs
193 7-38
Average
stand
per row
at Moro
from
53.2
33.1
0
Ceresari
Rate
per
bushel
-200 spore dosage
1-600 spore dosage
1-1,800 spore dosage
I
1.1
I
0,5
0.6
5.1
0.0
2.4
0.4
2.5
4-4
1.3
0.8
0.3
t 0.3
3.5
2.9
CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE STINKING SMUT
9
1,800) approximates that obtained on some lots of commercially smutty
grain. All of the standard treatments in this series gave satisfactory to
perfect control at the i-to-1,800 rate of spore dosage except the 18-per-cent
copper carbonate in all plots, and the basic copper sulphate in one instance,
at Pendlton. At the 4-ounce rate per bushel, all treatments tested gave
good control. When the smutting was increased to ito 600 and to Ito 200,
the 18-per-cent copper carbonate showed decided inability to control the
smut. While the 1-to-200 rate of spore dosage is abnormally heavy, there
are localized portions of otherwise clean grain that sometimes carry as
much smut. There is a strong chance that this portion of the seed will
produce smutty progeny unless it is carefully treated. The presence of 41.9
per cent smut (smutted 1 to 200) from seed treated with 18-per-cent copper
carbonate used at the 2-ounce rate at Pendleton and about half that at the
4-ounce rate was not exceptional but near the average expectation for these
conditions as based on all the trials during recent years.
Seeding in the dust as in 1936 appeared to favor copper carbonate over
basic copper sulphate. In other years when moisture was more plentiful at
seeding time, basic copper sulphate averaged slightly superior to the copper carbonate in controlling seed-borne stinking smut.
It is noted that smut is more easily controlled at Corvallis than in the
interior of Oregon. The data in Table I indicate that New Improved
Ceresan at the I-ounce rate or any of the copper dusts at the 2-ounce rate
would be effective at Corvallis. While New Improved Ceresan, which is effective on all small cereal grains, has proved the best all-round dust disinfectant for the Willamette Valley, such inexpensive copper dusts as the 26per-cent copper fungicides can be used on wheat in this region with success.
INFLUENCE OF THE DATE OF SEEDING ON THE
RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN
SEED TREATMENTS
In the region of The Dalles, fall seeding starts in early September and
in the Columbia Basin is continued from then until November. In general,
smut is a more serious problem in areas where late seeding is necessary
than where early September seeding is the most practical. This is mainly
due to the fact that a higher percentage of infection occurs under the cool
and moist conditions that are more likely to prevail at the time of later
seeding. The present portion of the study was to determine whether there
were any observable differences in the relative effectiveness of a number
of treatments under these different climatic conditions.
Method of procedure. Seedings were made on several dates at Pendleton in 1934. Each treatment was grown in five rows on each date. In addition, data that are not included in this report were obtained for four years
in Klickitat County, Washington, which is adjacent to the wheat lands of
Oregon. For two years, 1934 and 1935, cooperative studies of a similar
nature were conducted at Pullman, Washington. Treating and seeding
techniques were the same as given in the general procedure.
Results and discussion. The data from Pendleton, given in Table 2,
were obtained from seed smutted at a l-to-l00-spore dosage, and indicate
Table 2. RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING SFIIJT IN HYBRID 128 WHEAT SMUTTED
1
TO 100 AND
SEEDED ON FOUR DATES AT PENDLETON EXPESIMENT STATION IN 1934.
Smutted heads grown from seed sown
Treatment
Copper
content
Per cent
Smutted, untreated
New Improved Ceresan
Formaldehyde dip (10 minutes in 1-320)
Bluestone dip
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Basic copper sulphate
Basic copper sulphate
Field-run seed (not treated)
Average of all treated rows
Rate per
bushel
Ounces
September
25
Per cent
57.9
6.2
0.2
0
2
4
2
3
Per cent
88.4
14.5
0.0
1.6
O't'ber 15
Per cent
84.9
18.5
1.8
5.6
40.3
27.4
23.1
11.7
4.6
4.6
41.4
26.7
23.1
20.3
10.8
11.1
1 6.9
19.5
0.1
52
52
50
50
October 5
35.8
10.6
16.2
8.9
Oct'ber 25
Average
Per cent
Per cent
86.7
24.6
7.0
9.0
41.3
23.3
33.2
79.5
16.0
2.3
3.8
39.7
22.0
23.9
15.3
8.7
20.4
13.8
22.7
CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE STINKING SMUT
11
that adequate smut control on such heavily smutted seed is impossible
at this station with any of the dust treatments tried. The average for all
treatments was 11.1 per cent smut from the first date of seeding, 16.9 per
cent from the second, 19.5 per cent from the third, and 22.Z per cent from
the last. When the influence of local showers and the wide fluctuations in
weather during September and October in the Columbia Basin are taken
into consideration, these results are typical of the tendency for control to
decrease in effectiveness at each succeeding later date of seeding. Unpublished data show that the early seedings at Pullman, Washington, were
free from smut and those at High Prairie, Washington, when sowed before
mid-September had very little. Late-sown grain developed much more
smut.
All data obtained at Pendleton and Moro, as well as unpublished data
taken at Pullman, show that on grain seeded in late October in cold, wet
soil just before or after prolonged rains, basic copper sulphate at the rate
of 3 ounces per bushel is somewhat more effective in controlling seed-borne
smut than is 52-per-cent copper carbonate at the same rate. Eighteen-percent copper carbonate is very ineffective at this rate. Copper Hydro-40 on
High Prairie was effective at early dates of seeding but in cold, wet soil
reacted somewhat like 52-per-cent copper carbonate. The ineffectiveness of
the copper dusts in cold, wet soil possibly accounts for some of the dissatisfaction with present control practices. If seeding has been delayed by
dry weather or other causes until it must be done in cold and relatively wet
soil after late rains, it will probably be better to use as much as 1 ounce
of New Improved Ceresan per bushel or up to four ounces of basic copper
sulphate. If there is also reason to believe that soil-borne smut is present,
basic copper sulphate would be preferred. If seeding is done late in dry soil,
however, copper carbonate or New Improved Ceresan is a desirable treatment to use. Where seeding is clone abnormally late so that the soil is near
freezing and below the optimum temperature for smut development, the
grain may actually escape smut infections. Experience has shown, however,
that one cannot rely on escaping Smut by very late seeding and seed should
be treated as if heavy smut infection were expected.
INFLUENCE OF SOIL-BORNE SPORES ON RELATIVE
EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS
About twenty-five years ago when threshing was mainly done with
stationary outfits late in the season, the clouds of smut spores that rose
from these machines settled over the summer fallow. In the Palouse section of Washington and in portions of Eastern Oregon, this soil-borne
inoculum increased the difficulty of controlling stinking smut by seed treatment. Today with rapid combine harvesting the smut shower is distributed
earlier and there is also less to distribute. As a result soil-borne smut is
not nearly as important as formerly. It does occur, however, and for this
reason experimental trials were conducted to determine whether and to
what extent the newer treatments would combat it.
Method of procedure. Furrows made with a wheel hoe were lightly
sprayed on the morning of a cloudless day with a spore suspension made
by adding pint of sifted, ground stinking smut to one quart of water.
Table 3. RESULTS OF SEEDING TREATED HYSRID 128 WHEAT tN FURROWS SMUTTED WITH SPORE SUSPENSIONS OF TOletia tritici AND T. Jesus NEAR CORVALLIS. 1934 TO 1937 (5 REPLICATIONS).
Seed treatment
Name
Smutted, untreated Not smutted, field run
New Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Basic copper uIphate
Basic copper sulphate
Copper 1-lydro.40
Copper Hydro.40
Copper Hydro-40
Copper bordeaux
Westsvell paris green
Westwell paris green
London purple
London purple
hionocalcium arsenite
Monocalcium arsenite
Copper phosphate
Copper phosphate
Copper phosphate
Basic copper sulphate plus sodium lauryl sulphate
Tetra.methylthiuram-dtsulphide
Borco (ammonialed copper carbonate)
Formacide dust
Formacide dust
Smutted heads from seed sown in furrows
Copper
content
Rate per
Per cent
Ounces
0
0
18
18
52
52
50
50
26
26
26
22
bushel
Before
sprinkling
svith spore
suspension.
October
1934
Per cent
61.4
0.0
61.3
2
2
4
4
6
4
6
2
After sprinkling with spore suspension
October
1934
Per cent
67.7
54.9
0.9
63.3
48.5
49.0
41.2
47.0
44.4
40.7
46.3
October 19
t935
October 15,
1937
Per cent
Per cent
80.8
3.8
50.3
31.2
0.0
48.3
0.0
18.8
36.7
52.0
34.6
53.6
4
6
2
51.0
32.5
11.9
56.0
36.2
12.9
52.8
46.8
29.9
25.1
3
2
4
2
2
4
46.0
67.8
34.2
6+2
2
6
Seed treated one year prior to seeding. At! other seed treated within tsvo weeks before seeding.
14.5
22.4
5.6
17.8
6
4
0
32.6
49.3
6
0
!937
Per cent
19.3
2
50
50
50
so
October 15,
50.7
42.2
19.2
CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE STINKING SMUT
13
After allowing the soil to dry for two hours, the wheat was seeded in the
furrows and covered. The seed had been treated but not smutted although
it did carry a slight spore load. In one series in 1934, the grain was seeded
in unsmutted furrows and the grain and furrows. then sprayed with the
spore suspension before covering. Each treatment was grown in 5 rows.
Results and discussion. This experiment, summarized in Table 3, shows
that a heavy soil infestation of smut is very difficult to control. When ttie
infestation is only moderate, as occurred in 1937-38 at Corvallis, definite
benefit is derived from seed treatment with heavy applications of bunt disinfectants. Basic copper sulphate appears to cope with soil-borne smut
better than copper carbonate but very little better than the less expensive
Copper-Hydro-40. On one year's trial, sodium lauryl sulphate added to
basic copper sulphate gave the best control. Sodium lauryl sulphate is a
wetter, or detergent, used in spraying practice and in industry.
Arsenicals showed some soil-disinfecting properties but not enough to
risk their use. They are not only highly toxic to workers, but some of them,
such as monocalcium arsenite, cause seed injury.
Besides the chemicals specifically listed in Table 3, the following were
tried with no particular promise disclosed: anhydrous cupric chloride, 20per-cent copper silicate, copper oxychloride, 30-per-cent copper lime dust,
copper cyanamid, copper oxalate, lead arsenate, calcium cyanamid, Barbak
III, phenothiazin, cuprous chloride, london purple, monohydrated copper
sulphate, ethyl mercury iodide, 22-per-cent copper bordeaux, Cryptonol,
and Borco.
Under field conditions, infection from light soil infestations can be
held down but not eliminated by the use of New Improved Ceresan at *
ounce, basic copper sulphate at 3 to 4 ounces, and to some extent by 52per-cent copper carbonate at 3 to 4. Heavy soil infestations are almost
certain to result in a smutty crop. Fortunately, as mentioned, there does
not appear to be as much soil infestation now as formerly.
INFLUENCE OF THE LENGTH OF STORAGE PERIOD
OF TREATED GRAIN ON THE RELATIVE EFFICACY OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS
These studies were made to determine the maximum length of time
that it is safe to hold grain after treating and before seeding.
Method of procedure. The grain, after being smutted according to the
method given in the general procedure, was treated, and left in clean glass
or crockery containers until such products as New Improved Ceresan had
dissipated. The grain was then packeted and stored in a dry room until
seeding time. In 1934, treating was done at 15-day intervals from August 15
to October 15 and at seeding time (October 26) at Pendleton. In later
years, periods up to 14 months in length were used (Tables 4 to 7).
Results and discussion. The results in Tables 4 to 7 are somewhat
confused by a series of irregular semidroughty conditions at seeding and
by winter injury. A study of all of the data pertinent to the subject, however, justifies the drawing of generalized conclusions relative to the use of
Table 4. INFLUENCE OF TUE LEN(JTIT OF STORAGE PERIOD AFTER TREATING ON TILE EFFICACY OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING
SMUT FROM SEED-BORNE SPORES (Tilletia trsttci AND T. levis) in HYBRID 128 SOWN IN 8-FOOT ROWS REPLICATED 3 TIMES, OCTOBER 22, 1935, AT CORVALLIS AND OCTOBER 24, 1935, AT PENDLETON.
Total heads per row and percentage of smutled heads from seed treated the
indicated number of days before sowing.
Treatment used
per
bushel
Per cent
Ounces
Name
Smutted (1-200), untreated
New Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
Copper Carbonate
Copper carbonate
Basic copper sulphate
Basic copper sulphate
Untreated, somewhat sntutty
Rate
Copper
content
9
1
52
52
50
50
I
2
3
2
3
seed
84 days
Total
heads
22 days
59 days
Total
heads
Smutted
heads
Per cent
Smutted
heads
Total
heads
79.1
5.7
1.5
11.4
8.6
194
85.9
180
4.9
2.7
156
12.1
Smutted
heads
Per cent
Per cent
147
156
155
143
171
150
147
8 days
Total
heads
Smutted
heads
82.4
15.5
147
145
169
21.7
176
8.4
170
8.3
163
8.6
163
10.7
126
14.6
Per cent
13.6
-
I
173
183
178
164
149
177
149
I
140
77.5
6.5
0.7
5.8
7.6
3.3
7.6
8.3
Table 5. INFLUENCE OF THE LENGTH OF STORAGE PERIOD AFTER TREATING ON THE EFFICACY OF CERTAIN REED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING
SMUT FROM SEED-BORNE SPORES (Tilletia tritici AND T. levis) IN HYBRID 128 WHEAT SOWN IN 8-FOOT ROWS REPLICATED 4 TIMES, OCTOBER 22, 1936, AT
PENDLETON, OREGON.
Average number of heads per rosy and percentage of smutted heads from seed treated the indicated
number of days before sowing
Treatment used
Copper
Name
Smutted (1-200),
untreated
New Improved
Ceresan
New Improved
Ceresan
New Improved
con-
tent
Per
cent
Rate
per
bushel
Smutted
heads
Total
heads
Total
heads
Per
Ounces
21 days
51 days
82 days
Smutted
heads
Total
heads
Total
heads
Per
Per
cent
cent
Smutted
heads
52
50
Total
heads
Per
Smutted
heads
Per
cent
cent
69.4
231
65.7
213
246
7.0
255
3.0
241
1.5
226
2.6
188
0.6
224
0.6
248
0.4
192
0.3
247
0.1
6.0
6.3
214
168
6.6
11.0
219
217
4.0
20.4
195
187
11.4
4.2
181
7.9
197
7.6
177
5.8
157
51.8
216
9
207
0.1
197
0.1
1
171
0.0
184
0.0
3
171
190
7.6
8.0
175
173
3.9
156
I
Smutted
heads
296
52.4
173
Total
heads
60.5
184
3
ted
heads
cent
Ceresan
Copper carbonate
BasIc copper sulphate
Field-run, moderately
Smutty seed
Smut.
Per
cent
Average
(omitting 0 days)
0 days
7 days
58.3
Table 6. INFLUENCE OF THE LENGTH OF STORAGE PERIOD AFTER TREATING ON THE EFFICACY OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE
SPORES OF STINXJNG SMUT (Tifletia tritici AND T. levis) IN HYBRID 128 SOWN IN 5 REPLICATIONS ON OCTOBER 22, 1936, AT PENDLETON,
AND OCTOBER 25, 1936, AT MoRo.
Total heads per row and percentage of smutted heads from seed treated tIle indicated
number of days before sowing
Pendleton
Treatment
Name
Smutted, untreated
Field run, untreated
New Improved Ceresan (lot 1)
New Improved Cel-esan (lot 2)..
New Improved Ceresan (lot 1)
Copper carbonate
BasIc copper sulphate
Copper Hydro-40
Copper bordeaux
Copper oxalate
Copper phosphate
Ground bluestone
Westwell paris green
Rate
Copper
content
per
bushel
Per cent
Ounces
8
8
52
50
26
2
2
2
22
2
40
50
2
2
2
2
434 days
Total
heads
Moro
Smutted
heads
Total
heads
Per cent
139
122
209
211
196
240
206
158
230
210
129
238
266
434 days
71 days
Smutted
heads
Per cent
38.8
2.6
171
66.2
152
3.9
1 7.6
193"
184"
174"
19.3
0.2
4-5
5-7
6.1
5-4
5.5
8.2
10.5
0.1
Total
heads
190
231
187
190
194
205
4.8
4.0
0.2
10.2
4.9
15.1
14.0
9.7
151
22.9
24.1
177
1,2
Smutted
heads
Total
heads
Per cent
166
172
206
183
147
227
201
144
188
162
194
191
191
Average
both
plots
68 days
156
138
17.4
11.6
0.0
6.5
184"
5.1
6.8
4.3
8.0
10.0
0.0
heads
heads
Per cent Per cent
32.9
4.3
1.2
Smutted Smutted
202"
170"
186
209
162
167
199
169
172
186
40.2
1.5
12.2
6.2
0.2
4.3
1.3
4,3
4,3
6.2
11.2
11.0
1.0
44,5
3.1
13.0
10.3
0.2
6.4
3.3
7.7
7.6
6.4
12.6
13.9
0.6
"The grain treated with New Improved Ceresan was treated October 18, 1936. All other treatments under this heading vere made on Aug-
ust 15, 1936.
Table 7. INFLUENCE OF THE LENGTH OF STORAGE PERIOD AFTER TREATING ON THE EFFICACY OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING SMUT FROM
SEED-BORNE SPORES (Tilletia tritici AND T. levis) IN HYBRID 128 SOWN IN THREE-ROW RLOCKS WITH FIVE REPLICATIONS AT C,RANGER STATION (CORVALLIS) ON
OCTOBER 13, 1937.
Average nulnber of heads per rosy and average percentage of smutted heads in grain from seed treated the indicated
number of days before sowing
Treatment
Cop-
per
Name
COn-
tent
Per
C
Smutted,
untreated
Field run,
cent
-
Total
heads
per
bushel
Smutted
heads
363 days
Total
heads
Per
Ounces
llov
-.
I
Smutted
heads
Total
heads
Smut.
I
ted
I
cent
Total
heads
Per
Per
Smutted
heads
Total
heads
Per
Smut-
ted
heads
Total
heads
Per
cent
cent
Average
0 days
1 day
I SmutTotal
ted
heads heads
Smutted
heads
Per
cent
cent
43.4
89
59.8
53
32.1
64
35.0
94
36.2
64
29.5
77
39.3
82
0.0
84
0.0
61
0.0
77
0.1
91
0.0
77
0.0
79
trace
87
0.1
92
0.3
61
0.0
77
0.6
88
0.1
77
0.2
80
0.2
61
0.6
79
0.0
86
0.0
79
0.1
76
0.2
0.0
73
0.0
85
0.2
73
0.0
76
trace
S
52
10 days
22 days
Per
cent
cent
--
untreated --------
Nesv Improved
Ceresan
New Improved
Ceresan
New Improved
Ceresan
Copper
Carbonate
Basic copper
sulphate
439 days
Rate
83
0.0
81
0.0
60
3
92
0.2
94
0.0
-...
3
102
0.0
88
0.0
....
....
Due to the presence of take-all (Ophiobolus praminhs Sacc.) in portions of this plot, two of the five replications were discarded.
CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE STINKING SMUT
17
New Improved Ceresan, and the copper dusts, the potentialities of which
are better known for this area. These conclusions are based not only on
the results given in Tables 4 to 7, but also on those obtained in other trials,
because New Improved Ceresan was studied in considerable detail over
the four-year period.
Everything else being equal, the length of the storage period of grain
treated with copper dusts had no effect on either the germination of the
grain (advancing age of the grain excluded) or on the effectiveness of the
fungicide. It is apparent, however, that some care should be used in
handling grain treated with New Improved Ceresan. During the first year,
there was a slight tendency for the grain to show depressed stands if the
seed was held more than a month after treating at the - and 1-ounce rates.
The next year there appeared to be some advantage (Table 4) in seeding
wheat treated with New Improved Ceresan within about six weeks after
treating. Under the dry conditions of Oregon autumn weather, however,
there appears to be little danger of serious reduction in yield by storage
from season to season after treating with New Improved Ceresan.
The data for 1936-37 (Tables 5 and 6) are somewhat obscured by winter
injury, which was particularly heavy in the rows from untreated and smut-
ted seed. This resulted in more smutted heads surviving in some of the
rows from treated seed than in those from untreated seed, the latter being
sometimes nearly wiped out. In 1936, the grain was seeded in the dust and
emerged during the winter. When New Improved Ceresan was used in the
field at seeding time at the excessive rate of 2 ounces per bushel, the absorptive powers of the soil prevented any injury.
Data in Table 5 indicate that to receive the full benefit of stand increase due to the New Improved Ceresan, wheat seeded in late October,
for instance, should be treated after October first and preferably within a
week of seeding. On this point, under the conditions of these experiments,
there is no question that grain treated with New Improved Ceresan and
seeded before the expiration of 2 to 3 weeks had better stands than the
same grain untreated. An examination of hundreds of rows in the field has
convinced the writer and co-workers that, for one reason or another, grain
treated with New Improved Ceresan and seeded within a three-weeks period after treating shows an increased stand over clean untreated seed. The
difference is easily seen in the plots. While the smutted check rows show
more heads in some cases than the rows treated with New Improved
Ceresan, the increase in the checks is due to the universally recognized proliferative influence of the smut. Rows grown from seed treated with New
Improved Ceresan and free of smut, when compared with rows grown from
clean seed and also free of smut, had better stands in the great majority
of cases. This will be discussed further (Table 14). When grain treated
with New Improved Ceresan was sown after a period longer than about
three weeks after treatment, it did not produce thinner stands than the untreated seed (proliferation of smutty plants considered), but it did produce thinner stands than seeds sown soon after being treated with the
New Improved Ceresan. After six weeks or so, this grain slowly decreased
in viability so that after a year in storage wheat treated with New Improved Ceresan had to be seeded about 10 per cent thicker than normal.
When the grain had been treated at or 1 ounce per bushel, it needed to
be seeded sooner than wheat treated at the i-ounce rate. When held for
Table 8. INFLUENCE OF SOIL TYPE ON THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING SMUT IN HYBRID 128 WHEAT SOWN
IN INOCULATED SOIL DUPLICATES PLOTS (fix 9 FEET), WITH THREE REPLICATIONS IN EACH PLOT, NEAR CORVALLIS, OREGON, OCTOBER 1934 AND OCTOBER 1935.
Percentage of smutted heads from seed treated* with
Soil
p11
Field runt
Unti'eated
New Improved
Ceresan
Copper
carbon.
atet
Value
for
wheat
Wilting
point
1934
1935
Excel.
lent
6.9-7.1
0.0
0.0
44.3
67.2
27.9
16.6
24.6
Poor
16
0.0
1.5
37.4
57.4
16.2
6.7
Very
poor
16
0.0
1.2
2.1
34.1
0.8
Good
10
8
19.5
3.0
2.0
0.0
1.7
57.0
62.1
32.9
85.5
73.8
67.2
35.7
0.0
1934
1935
1934
1934
Copper
carbonate9
1934
Basic copper
suiphatell
Bluestone
1934
1935
1934
1935
31.0
2.8
3.8
0.0
13.4
0.0
13.7
13.5
0.8
15.0
2.4
5.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
19.7
12.8
34.5
35.5
5.1
1.4
31.5
0.0
0.0
3.5
6.2
0.7
3.8
4.8
1.3
0.0
27.4
5.2
4.6
1.1
1935
1935
Very fine sandy
loam (High
Prairie,
Washington)
Dayton clay
6+
loam
Alsea Valley,
red col-
luvial soil
Willamette
silt loam .
7.0
--
Nlewberg loam
Sites clay
4.9
6.5
6+
6.0
Fair+
Fair-
* New Improved Ceresan applied at
Not smutted.
9 Contains 18 per cent copper.
§ Contains 52 per cent copper.
1 Contains 50 per cent copper.
..
.
9.5
.
ounce, and copper dusts at 2 ounces pci bushel and standard bluestone dip treatment.
CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE STINKING SMUT
19
several weeks before sowing, however, the stand was only slightly poorer
than that from untreated clean seed; after 14 months in storage it was
sometimes 10 to 15 per cent poorer in stand. Data in Tables 6 and 7 indicate
that long storage of grain treated with 'lew Improved Ceresan did not
reduce the stand excessively. At Granger (Table 7) there was no injury
from the i-ounce treatment, and less than 5 per cent from the 1-ounce treatment held for long periods. Although more information is needed on the
factors controlling the stand of grain treated with New Improved Ceresan,
all of the trials reported here have indicated that the danger of seed injury
by New Improved Ceresan under dry storage conditions is very slight, and
the chances of improved stand more than offset the danger.
INFLUENCE OF SOIL TYPE ON THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS
There has been some indication in the field that smut is harder to control on some soil types than on others. Grain grown on soils richer in organic matter is usually considered more liable to smut infection, although
the so-called "low smut" is ri-lost often reported from poorer (eroded) portions of a field.
Method of procedure. Table 8 summarizes results from replicated
tests that were grown in small plots of soil assembled near Corvallis,
Oregon, 1934 to 1936. The native soil (Newberg loam) was excavated to a
depth of 8 inches in plots 6 by 9 feet, the hole lined with 1-x8-inch fir boards
and filled with a known type of soil. The soil was brought by truck from
either High Prairie, Washington, Alsea Valley, Oregon, or from nearby
places in Benton County, Oregon.
In the 1934-35 trials, the open furrows were sprayed with a spore suspension and clean treated seed was planted in them. In 1935-36, the seed
was smutted (1-200) and sown in the smut-free soil.
Results and discussion. There was considerable difference in the
amount of smut present in the various plots (Table 8). Ease of control was
inversely proportional to the amount of smut in the untreated rowsthe
more smut potentially possible, the poorer the control. In acid soils, such
as the red hill soils near Astoria where a separate trial was conducted, or
in soils from the lower Alsea Valley, smut control was easy. There was
little difference in facility of control between any of the soils that were
better adapted to wheat. On the heaviest types it was noted that with treatments that depressed germination (bluestone) the weakened sprouts had
more difficulty in emerging. It is said that formaldehyde is still used on
light soil, in some fields near Echo, whereas, in soils that tend to crust,
injury with formaldehyde has long been feared.
In general, a mellow, fertile soil with high moisture-holding capacity
and a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction is the kind n-lost likely to induce
the heaviest smut losses.
20
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETiN 363
INFLUENCE OF UNBROKEN SMUT BALLS ON THE
RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN
SEED TREATMENTS
Frequently there are unbroken smut balls in farm seed wheat that is
otherwise relatively free from smut. At one time it was believed that these
unbroken balls caused heavy smut loss after they became broken in the
seeding process. It is now believed that these are more likely to pass
through both the treating mach.inery and the seeder without an appreciable
number being broken. While large quantities of the grain are not likely to
become smutted by these balls, they may, however, swell and burst in the
soil, causing localized smutting in the crop. Trials were conducted to deterinine whether infection from these smut balls could be held in check by
seed treatment.
Method of procedure. A moderate, or in some cases an excessive, number of smut balls were added to the grain in some of the trials. The percentage ranged from 3 in 1934 to as high as 30 in 1936-37. Pertinent data
are given in Table 9. The rest of the bulky tabular data will be mentioned
but not given in detail.
Results and discussion. It is apparent that control with standard dust
treatments was impossible with t11e smuttier seed used. New Improved
Ceresan was ineffective under the conditions of the test when used at the
i-ounce rate but was effective at the 1-ounce rate. While in the rows grown
from seed treated with New Improved Ceresan, at ounce per bushel,
there was 56 per cent Smut, in the rows grown from untreated seed at
Pendleton in 1937-38 there was 97.9 per cent smut. \'Vhen the smut balls
were removed from the same sample there was still enough smut on the
seed to produce 94.8 per cent smut from the untreated seed. When the
amount of smut dropped to 47.3 per cent from the untreated smutted wheat
in 1936-37 at Pendleton, there was only 13.3 per cent smut with the i-ounce
rate with New Improved Ceresan, while with the 1-ounce rate there was
only 0.5 per cent smut. Under farm conditions, one rarely obtains more
than 25 per cent smut in untreated grain, which would indicate that 1
ounce per bushel would readily control this degree of smuttiness. The rate
for treating grain that contains more than an occasional smut ball should
be
ounce in Eastern Oregon. Fortunately, very little seed grain now
contains more than a trace of smut balls and to ounce of New Improved
Ceresan is sufficient for most cases*
In the Willamette Valley, grain containing smut balls was easily made
free from smut in the plots on heavy soil at Granger in 1937-38, but treatment was not so successful in the plots grown in sandy soil south of Corvallis in 1935-36 (Table 9). It is doubted, however, whether there will be
more than an occasional need to use New Improved Ceresan at more than
ounce per bushel in the Willamette Valley. If seed has been imported
from outside this area, it may be desirable to use more dust disinfectant to
control smut before seeding.
Additional teats made at Moro and Pendleton since this paper was completed indicate
that smut balls may be killed at the i-ounce rate if the grain is covered for three days after
treating.
Table 9. RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING SMUT IN WHEAT GROWN FROM SEED CONTAINING UNBROKEN
SMUT BALLS, TIlE PROPORTION OF SMUT DALLS BEING 3 PER CENT IN 1934-35; 18 PER CENT IN 1935.36; 30 PER CENT IN 1936-37; AND 5 PER CENT IN
1937-38. THESE WERE 8, 5, 4, AND 4 REPLICATIONS IN 1934-35, 1935-36, 1936-37, AND 1937-38, RESPECTIVELY.
Percentage of smutted heads at
Treatment
Smutted, untreated
NeW Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
Copper Carbonate
Copper carbonate
Basic copper sulphate
Copper Hydro-40
Copper bordeaux
Bluestone (1-1-5) dip
Bluestone (1-1-5) in OS. VatsolO
Forinaldehyde (1-320)
Pendleton
193 4-3 5
1936-37
1937-38
1935-36
1935_36V
1935-36
1937-38
Per cent
Ounces
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
52
18
50
26
22
76.4
2
2
2
2
2
16.9
26.3
12.5
1.1
47.3
13.3
0.5
9.2
19.1
9.2
7.0
13.4
1.4
6.4
97.9
56.0
7.9
14.5
24.6
0.0
2
86
Smut balls removed, untreated
Ditto, copper carbonate
52
Copper oxalate
40
Copper carbonate
20
Copper phosphate
50
40
Copper oxychloride
Anhydrous cupric chloride
25
Copper zeolite
Westwell paris green
London purple
Monohydrated copper sulphate
Sodium hypochlorite solution, 1 per cent
Treated one year prior to seeding.
4 ounces in 1937-38.
5 10-pet--cent solution in 1935, 2.5 per cent in 1936.
.
2
2-4
50.7
3.1
2
2
94.8
1.3
17.9
27.9
13.6
32.7
33.9
1.4
0.0
0.3
90.2
30.7
50.3
15.4
8.0
16.7
4.4
11.0
14.1
1.0
0.0
3.5
16.8
43.5
10.1
1.4
3.8
37.6
33.6
2.3
41.7
10.3
18.9
46.4
88.0
46.0
33.6
17.5
3
4
4
4
2
2
2
Moro
Corvallis
0.0
0.8
Formacide
CuproCide
Granger
Copper
content
Rate
per
bushel
44.1
65.0
7.3
1.6
17.5
17.5
0.9
0.2
8.6
8.7
10.3
0.5
0.0
2.5
0.7f
53.7
10.1
0.5t
0.2
534
0.2
0.9
15.6
0.4
0.2
0.2
2.4
3.0
11.3
10.6
36.5
22
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 363
The presence of large numbers of smut balls in seed grain materially
reduces the effectiveness of the copper dusts, and application of excess
quantities of these dusts does not control bunt effectively. Copper carbonate was decidedly more effective on wheat from the experimental lot
that had the smut balls removed by hand than on the same general lot that
had the smut balls left in. The presence of smut balls in wheat is likely
to result in some smut appearing the next year if copper dusts are used.
Care should be taken to remove the balls, if possible, by fanning.
Formaldehyde and bluestone at standard strength effectively controlled smut in balls, but treatment lasting long enough to permit complete soaking of the balls (5 to 10 minutes) sometimes resulted in injury
to the wheat. The best practice is to skim the balls off and then dip the
formaldehyde-treated grain in a water bath. The addition of 0. S. Vatsol,
a wetter, in 10 per cent (1935) and later 2.5 per cent (1936) bluestone solution gave perfect control. Extensive trials with wetters in formaldehyde
in 1937-38, however, gave discouraging results.
RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS COPPER
DUSTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING SMUT
At the start of the present study, it was suggested that a uniform trial
with a large number of grades and brands of copper dusts should be made
over a period of years to determine whether there are any inferior products
that might be the cause of some of the complaints about unsatisfactory
control. Along this line it was suggested that the percentage of metallic
copper by weight in a given brand or grade of copper dust might be a guide
to its effectiveness.
The trials herein listed include more materials than were at first contemplated. In spite of keen competition from disinfectants containing no
copper, many new copper products have been offered for sale during recent years.
Methods of procedure. The chemicals were obtained either by direct
purchase from the manufacturer or retailer or through the courtesy of colleagues. Official cooperative material was furnished by F. D. Bailey, Fungicide Division, Food and Drug Administration, and by R. H. Robinson,
chemist, Experiment Station, Corvallis.
Plots were maintained 14 miles south of Corvallis or at Granger, Moro,
Pendleton, and Condon, Oregon, and at High Prairie and Pullman, Washington. Each treatment was replicated 3 to 5 times. Results from Pullman
are not included in this bulletin although data obtained in cooperation with
the Washington Agricultural Experiment Station were helpful in arranging the details of later trials in Oregon.
All treatments were on. Hybrid 128 wheat smutted 1-200 as given in the
general procedure.
Results and discussion. A summary of the more pertinent data is given
in Table 10.
The differences between the effectiveness of the various brands of
copper carbonate and basic copper sulphates with 50 to 54 per cent copper
Table 10. RELATI\'E EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS CHEMICALS, CHIEFLY COPPER COMPOUNDS, IN CONTROLLING STINKING SMUT IN WINTER WHEAT- AT
VARIOUS STATIONS IN OREGON, 1935 TO 1938.
Average percentage of smutted heads at
Treatment
Smutted, untreated
Copper carbonate No. it
Copper carbonate No. 1
Copper carbonate No. 2
Copper carbonate No. 3
Copper carbonate No. 3
Copper carbonate No. 4
Copper carbonate No. 5
Copper carbonate No. 5
Copper carbonate No. 6
Copper carbonate No. 6
Copper carbonate No. 7
Copper carbonate No. 7
Copper carbonate No. 8
Copper carbonate No. 9
Copper carbonate No. 10
Basic copper sulphate
No. 1
Basic copper sulphate
No. 1
Basic copper sulphate
No. 2
Basic copper sulphate
No. 2
Basic copper sulphate
No. 3
Basic copper sulphate
No. 3
Basic copper sulphate
No. 4
Copper Hydro-40
Copper Hydro-40
Copper Hydro-40
(Horticultural) II
Copper bordeaux
Copper bordeaux
Copper sulphate powder
Copper
Rate
per
bushel
Per cent
Ounces
-- 1935
--
.
58
18
18
18
4
2
1937-38
1936
-36
-37
69.2
71.4
6.7
9.5
2-3
Condon
Corvallis
i
68.1
0.4
2.2
10.2
5.1
2
2-3
20
20
52
52
52
52
52
52
54
6.8
3.9
5.9
2.8
4
2-3
4
2-3
2
2
2
1.6
i
2.2
0.6
0.9
3.1
1.5
2.3
50-52
2-3
50-52
4
0.4
2-3
3.4
4
1.6
50
1.7
1.0
1936
1937
1935
1936
1937
-38
-36
-37
-38
-36
-37
-38
19.2
0.0
0.4
81.3
37.0
24.4
75.7
55.4
82.9.
24.0
21.9
82.4
60.5
93.5
40.6
45.4
0.0
18.9
16.7
13.3
12.8
38.5
27.8
21.9
24.6
20.4
17.6
22.7
12.7
6.5
13.8
18.0
32.5
21.0
2.3
13.5
13.4
12.9
14.1
3.3
8.9
7.9
7.9
14.0
12.5
7.3
14.0
15.0
16.2
14.3
16.0
9.6
4.9
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
12.6
19.0
9.5
9.9
9.1
13.1
30.4
29.3
35.7
36.7
12.4
8.9
1.1
14.9
11.9
12.4
12.5
7.2
10.0
4.6
4.2
13.4
26.6
6.4
16.8
7.2
5.7
14.8
8.4
6.3
5.5
8.8
5.1
5.6
13.9
7.0
3.9
2.5
5.4
0.0
6.4
10.1
4.3
13.7
10.2
0.0
6.3
5.3
0.2
6.2
0.0
5.1
1.3
1.8
0.0
4.0
0.0
0.0
3.2
2.6
Pendleton
Moro
1935
t
0.3
18
18
1937
I
50
50
2--3
50
4
50-52
2
2-3
26
26
26
22
22
4.7
1.6
2.3
4.1
0.0
4
4
-
2-3
7.0
4
2
9.2
7.5
3.5
0.0
0.0
9.2
0.4
25.9
24.5
0.2
0.5
4.9
4.9
6.5
1.8
19.8
8.0
4.4
7.9
11.2
32.1
16.0
16.7
7.6
17.2
19.5
18.6
12.1
9.7
21.3
6.5
14.7
18.1
21.0
17.4
7.3
10.8
5.8
26.9
23.0
14.7
22.9
32.1
21.8
18.3
Table 10. (Continued)
Average percentage of smutted heads at
Corvallis
Rate
Treatment
?Jonohydrated copper
sulphate
Monohydrated copper
sulphate
Copper lime dust
Anhydrous cupric chloride
Copper oxychloride
Copper oxychioride
Copper cyanamid
Copper oxide (red) No. 1
Copper oxide (red) No. 2
Copper oxide (cuprocide)
Copper oxide (cuprocide)
Copper phosphate No. 1
Copper phosphate No. 2
Copper phosphate No. 2
Copper phosphate No. 3
Copper phosphate No. 4
Copper oxalate
Copper zeolite
Copper silicate (for
spraying)
Westwell Paris green
New Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
Copper borate
Cuprous chloride
Field run, untreated
Copper
per
bushel
Per cent
Ounces
2
1935
-36
-37
0.4
4
4
22
4
70+
86
86
86
50
50
50
40
50
40
25
20
2
2
2
1.4
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
4.1
23.7
3.8
1.5
0.0
6.5
1.9
4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.5
0.2
4
4
2-411
3.1
4
2-4
2
1
4
Moro
1935
11.7
5.4
6.2
0.4
1936
-36
-37
4.6
4.5
Pendleton
1937
-38
56.1
0.2
17.0
11.5
38.5
0.0
8.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.7
0.0
0.1
I
0.0
i
14.7
17.3
12.4
9.1
14.6
14.8
0.4
31.8
0.5
12.1
1.8
3.1
1936
-36
-37
9.4
9.4
77.7
0.6
22.3
4.1
7.8
10.0
26.0
48.6
11.7
7.3
9.0
16.8
24.5
39.6
61.1
32.6
23.5
8.0
18.8
31.3
19.9
15.6
17.6
15.6
12.3
14.4
4.3
32.3
1.9
16.4
0.0
0.2
9.0
18.1
11.7
7.6
18.2
2.4
20.1
0.7
0.8
5.0
3.2
2.5
0.3
15.1
15.1
21.8
0.0
5.8
0.2
1.3
1937
-38
5.0
.53.8
0.2
23.0
11.3
0.3
0.0
0.0
1.0
17.0
7.1
1935
2.0
19.7
4
2
2
-38
2.2
0.0
45
1937
0.0
4
30
Condon
1937-38
1936
19.0
9.5
3.3
22.5
13.0
22.1
21.0
31.1
16.3
6.5
7.7
Treated one year prior to seeding.
Treated and seeded in fall of 1937.
11 These numbers refer to the number of the collection fIled at Corvallis.
§ The 2.ounce rate was used in 1936-37 and the 3-ounce rate in 1937-38.
The horticultural spray grade of Copper I-Iydro-40 is a gray dust, while the more effective dust for stinking smut control (used in these experiments)
sold until October 1938 for dusting purposes is a light blue. Their improved product, not tested, is pale peagreen in color.
The 2-ounce rate was used in 1935-1937 and the 4.ounce rate in 1937-38.
II
CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE STINKING SMUT
25
content and with good dusting properties are no greater than the differences
obtained from different lots of the same brand. Any of the standard brands
sold in the region are recommended for.us in controlling stinking smut of
wheat. Some dusts, however, appear to be less foggy than others and it is
suggested that those that have clinging properties with less of the chalky
nature of the dilute brands of copper dusts be used.
The copper dusts with about 26 per cent copper, such as 'Copper
Hydro-40" and '26 per cent Copper Fungicide," are also effective against
medium and light infestations of smut. The formula or the method of
manufacture of some of these dusts has been changed a number of times
and in one case (Copper Hydro.40) the latest product has not been tested.*
Most of them are effective, however, at least on lightly smutted seed, and
can be recommended for all but heavily smutted grain at the rate of 3
ounces per bushel.
The 18 to 20 per cent copper carbonate dusts were found to be distinctly less effective than the 52 per cent copper carbonates under adverse
conditions. Because those with 18 per cent copper are often chalkier and
because effective use requires a minimum 4-ounce rate, there is little advantage for them. It is believed that the elimination of the dusts with low
copper content will remove much of the complaint against copper carbonate.
Some of the dusts that were tested were not sufficiently effective or
were too costly. These included red copper oxides, copper borate, ground
bluestone, certain copper phosphates, copper oxalates, certain copper oxychlorides, copper zeolite, copper lime dust, and copper cyanarnid. Copper
oxalate, copper oxychloride, and copper cyanamid were the most promising of these.
Some of the dusts, such as monohydrated copper sulphate or anhydrous cupric chloride, were effective but were irritating to the nose and
were also hygroscopic. The effective copper arsenical Westwell Paris
green is too dangerous to use at present on account of its arsenic content.
RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF MISCELLANEOUS
DUSTS IN CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE
STINKING SMUT
During the course of these studies, a number of noncopper-containing
chemicals were offered for trial and were treated as a separate group.
These were augmented by a large number of purely experimental materials,
which were included on the chance that some might prove both efficient
and inexpensive.
Methods of procedure. The same general methods were used that were
employed in most of the other trials as given in the general procedure.
Where mixtures of two chemicals were employed they were mixed previ-
Since completion of this bulletin one brief triplicated experiment in the college greenhouse with Union spring wheat smutted 1 to 200, by weight, gave 60.6 per cent smut in the
untreated check rows, 9.6 per cent smut in rows treated at the rate of 3 ounces per bushel
svitlt 52 per cent copper carbonate, 12.0 per cent smut in rows treated with basic copper
sulphate at the same rate, and 11.8 per cent under the same conditions for the improved lot
ot Copper-Hydro-40. This indicates that the newer product is no better than the old but is
approximately equal to it in effectiveness.
26
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 363
ously and applied to the seed as a mixture. Mixtures were tried with New
Improved Ceresan, basic copper sulphates, copper carbonates, arsenicals,
and other dusts in many combinations and amounts.
Results and discussion. The data on these trials included a total of
3,203 eight-foot rows involving counts of 545,000 heads. For the purpose of
this bulletin the rather voluminous data that are filed in unpublished reports will be summarized here.
It was found that New Improved Ceresan lost efficiency in mixture
with all of the materials tested. Mixtures in general were less efficient than
their component materials taken separately. A few, such as sodium sulpliate, could sometimes be added to the copper dusts without reducing their
efficiency to any extent, provided the same amount of copper was added to
a given amount of seed.
Various arsenicals, including monocalcium arsenite, copper arsenite,
copper arsenate, paris green, london purple, and others, were tested. Westwell paris green (Table 10) was the most efficient of this group and caused
very little or no seed injury at the rate of 2 ounces per bushel. It could be
used with basic copper sulphate. While it cannot be recommended at present on account of its arsenic content, it might have a place in the future
when used in air-conditioned treating machines.
Tetra-methyl-thiuram-disulphide (80 per cent) dust at 3 ounces per
bushel was effective, but at present is too costly to warrant consideration.
Copper dusts, when mixed with vatsol, liydrolene, calcium cyanamid,
talc, etc., as diluents, stickers, or wetters, were less efficient in almost all
cases than the same equivalent of copper undiluted. Calcium cyanamid, an
inexpensive commercial fertilizer, had some fungicidal value at 6 ounces
per bushel, but even in the Willamette Valley it will not control smut in
slightly smutted seed. The same is true for Vasco 4, zinc-copper bordeaux,
Mike sulphur, formacide, and sodium hypochlorite. Such materials as flotation sulphur, 400-mesh sulphur, super poppy sulphur, zinc sulphate, borax,
treble phosphate, cadmium carbonate, lead chromate, sesqui-chromium
oxide, paradichlorobenzine, bronze powder, and cerium oxalate were all
unsatisfactory as fungicides for controlling bunt.
RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED
TREATMENTS FOR SPRING-SOWN WHEAT
Smut is usually easily controlled in spring-sown wheat except when it
is seeded in early spring in cool and moist soil, as is often done in Eastern
Oregon. In the Pendleton plots, as much as 85 per cent Smut has been
obtained in wheat grown from untreated Smutty seed. Under favorable
conditions for stinking smut, it is necessary to treat spring-sown grain
with reasonable care.
Method of procedure. Seed of Federation wheat in 1935 and White
Federation in 1937 was smutted 1 to 200 and treated with disinfectants in
the usual way. In 1938, the variety Union was used. Union is a club wheat,
completely susceptible to bunt, and is the most satisfactory one to use in
spring smut trials because infected heads are easily detected. Each treatment was replicated 3 times in each test.
Table 11. RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING SMUT OF WD{EAT (Tilletia tritics AND T. leins) oN SFRINGSOWN FEDERATION iN 1935 AND 1937 AND ON UNION IN 1938, AT CORVALLIS AND PENDLETON.
Percentage of smutted heads
Treatment
Smutted (1-200) untreated
New Improved eresan
New Improved Ceresan
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Basic copper sulphate
Basic copper sulphate
Basic copper sulphate
Formaldehyde (1-320)
Cuprocide (for dusting)
Cuprocide (for dusting)
Cuprocide (for dusting)
Calcium cyanamid
Copper Hydro-40
Copper Hydro-40
Copper Hydro-40
Copper oxychloride
Malachite green solution, 1-5,000
Victor copper oxalate
Victor copper oxalate
Coposil for dusting
Cuprocide 54
Tn basic copper sulphate
Zinc-cop
Copper fungicide
Mike sulphur
Copper phosphate
Copper
Content
Rate
per
bushel
Per cent
Ounces
52
52
52
20
18
18
50
50
50
2
86
86
86
2
26
26
26
40
3
4
2
2
3
2
3
1935
1937
6
2
Per cent
Per cent
25.9
44.0
0.0
0.2
0.0
58.9
4.4
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
1935
1937
1938
Per cent
Per cent
Per cent
855
62.8
12.0
6.4
1.3
0.4
1.4
0.4
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.6
0.0
2.8
78.9
11
0.8
2.6
3.1
2.4
7.4
15.8
6.6
3.6
3.3
0.3
11.2
12.5
1.6
37.4
4.5
1.1
5.3
4
32.4
1.7
0.9
1.4
3.7
0.0
0.7
0.0
4
4
3
4
26
4
2
3.5
8.3
2
54
34
1.6
0.8
0.2
0.7
3
6.0
0.9
20.2
0.0
4
22
22
50
1938
Per cent
4
4
Pendleton
Corvallis
24.1
1.1
78.9
6.5
4.8
9.7
2.0
4.1
28
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 363
Results and discussion. The results of three years' trials at Corvallis
and Pendleton are presented in Table 11. At Corvallis, any of the standard
treatments and a number of experimental ones controlled smut at minimum
rates of treating. Since most farmers also grow oats and barley and since
these are best treated with New Improved Ceresan at the i-ounce rate,
this treatment is generally the most desirable for the Wiflamette Valley
wheat.
In the Pendleton area, smut in most lots of spring wheat seed can be
ounce of New Improved Ceresan per bushel or 2 ounces
of the copper dusts. Heavier dosages are desirable if the grain is at all
smutty. The 26 per cent copper fungicides should be used at the 3-ounce
rate in most cases, although apparently stinking smut can be controlled in
controlled with
relatively clean seed by treating at the 2-ounce rate. Tribasic copper
sulphate proved to be as effective as the other basic copper sulphates.5 Certain chemicals, such as cobaltous chromate, copper borate, cadmium oxide,
Barbak III and Barbak C, copper zeolite, Mike sulphur, and calcium cyanamid proved unadapted for effective control.
RELATIVE E F F E C T I V E N E S S OF CERTAIN SEED
TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING SMUT
IN RIDIT (A RESISTANT VARIETY) AND THE INFLUENCE OF THESE TREATMENTS ON YIELD
While Ridit wheat is resistant to all but one of the known races of
Tillelia 1ritci and T. 1evs, its resistance is only partial, as evidenced by the
fact that some of the mycelia that fail to reach the head of the wheat cause
a certain amount of sterility. It was thought that this sterility could be reduced and yield increased by proper seed treatment.
Method of procedure. Trials were conducted at Pendleton from 1934
to 1937 using field-run Ridit seed that had been smutted 1 to 200 with the
composite of northwestern smut races. After 1934-35, the sowings were
replicated in blocks of three and the middle row used for yield data, but in
1934 replicated single rows only were used. Yield data were recorded by J.
Foster Martin, who also made the smut counts in 1935.
Results and discussion. The results for 1934-35 gave indications that
seed treatment increased the yield of Rjdit, but various factors, including
stand competition, winter injury, and hard-pan spots in the soil, left the
results rather inconclusive. The next year winter injury, particularly in
the rows from smutted, untreated seed, killed out large numbers of plants.
It was indicated that it would be desirable to treat Ridit wheat since the
treated grain did not suffer as much from winter injury as the less hardy
smutted plants. This is indicated in the yields (Table 12). In this series and
in the following year (1936-37), 8 and 5 replications, respectively, were
made of treatments on both smutted seed and on clean seed (Table 12).
In trials just completed with winter wheat, however, neither tribasic copper sulphate
nor '34" copper fungicide was as effective as the finer ground copper carbonates and basic
copper sulphates.
Table 12. RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SEED TREATMENTS IN CONTROLLING STINKING SMUT (Tilletia tritici AND 7. levis) IN RIDIT WHEAT NOT
SMUTTED OS SMUTTED 1-200, DY WEIGHT, WITH A COMPOSITE OF SMUT RACES REPLICATED 9 TIMES IN SINGLE ROWS, 1934-35; 8 TIMES IN 3-ROW
BLOCKS, 1935-36; AND 5 TIMES IN 3-Row BLOCKS, 1936-37.
Average per cent of smutted heads and yield in grams per row
Treatment
Rate
per
Copper
content
bushel
Per cent -
Ounces
1935-36
1934-35
- Smutted
heads
Yield
Smutted
heads
Per cent
Grams
er cent
SEED SMUTTED
UntreatedE
'0
New Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
Bluestone dip
Formaldehyde dip (1-320)
Basic Copper sulphate
Copper carbonate
Copper Hydro-40
1
10.5
165
33
0.5
200
138
141
190
193
0.2
200
0.1
0.7
50
52
26
2
2
1.1
50
52
26
1.9
0.4
0.4
2.7
Yield
Grams
Per cent
90
177
148
103
161
203
2
2
6.7
4_s
0.1
0.1
141
191
0.1
135
108
175
184
0.0
0.0
0.0
Yield
Smutted
heads
Yield
Grams
Per cent
Grams
176
191
1.4
0.0
0.0
3.4
227
203
190
1.1
205
177
3.1
2
SEED NOT SMUTTED
Untreated
New Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
Bluestone dip
Formaledhyde (1-320)
Basic copper sulphate
Copper carbonate
Copper Hydro-40
2.8
2.6
Average
193 6-3 7
Smutted
heads
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
191
196
209
197
169
160
193
192
198
6.7
3.6
2.4
0.7
0.4
1.6
1.4
144
184
0.1
0.1
179
200
0.1
152
134
184
188
0.0
0.0
0.0
214
163
145
181
200
These are the average for 5 check blocks. Between each treated block there was either a check row smutted and untreated, or not smutted
and untreated.
30
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 363
The average yield from treated clean seed was 161 grams per row while
that from clean untreated seed (1935-36) was only 141 grams. This is
further indication that it is desirable to treat seed of Ridit, even if it appears to be clean.
During the third year of the trials, there was again no clear correlation between the yield and the amount of smut present in the heads. Again,
however, there was evidence of the value of seed treatment in the increased
yield from the heavily smutted seed that had been treated.
INFLUENCE OF THE SEED TREATMENTS ON THE
STAND OF GRAIN
Information on this point has been covered in part previously. The
following is a summary of the entire study.
Method of procedure. Emergence data were obtained in November
and December, 1934, at Corvallis and Pendletori (Table 13). In later years,
irregular emergence in most cases prevented data from being obtained in
the fall, but information was assembled at harvest time based on the number of heads surviving. The results of four years' study with Hybrid 128 in
connection with tests on the copper compounds, miscellaneous chemicals,
rate of smutting, and date of seeding, and treating tests are summarized in
Table 14. Data from tests where seed containing smut balls was used and
from those involving soil infestation are omitted.
Results and discussion. The data in Tables 13 and 14 (based on a large
number of plants and replications of trials) show that the standard dust
treatments generally resulted in slight increase in stand. The stands are
based on a comparison with the untreated and unsmutted (field run) check
rows. Because smutted plants show considerable proliferation of culms
(115.3 per cent) in these trials (Table 14), it is possible that the increases
in culms in the treated rows were due to proliferation by smut, particularly in the case of copper carbonate with 18 per cent copper. There were
only 3.5 per cent smut in the field run checks, however, 8.9 per cent in the
i-ounce treatment with New Improved Ceresan, and only 0.9 per cent smut
in the 1-ounce treatment. It is suggested, therefore, that some of the increase in stand in the treated rows could be due to the treatment inhibiting
damping off, lootrot and rootrot fungi in the cold, wet soil at or soon after
emergence.
GENERAL DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The treatments recommended by districts are as follows:
Eastern Oregon
(rarely 1) ounce per bushel for
New Improved Ceresan, to
winter wheat; i (rarely ) ounce for spring-sown wheat.
Copper carbotiate, 52 per cent; basic copper sulphate, 50 per cent;
copper dust, 26 per cent-3 ounces for winter wheat; 2 to 3 ounces for
spring-sown wheat. If the soil as well as the seed appears to be infested,
use 4 ounces per bushel in fall-sown wheat.
-
Table 13. INFLUENCE or SEED TREATMENTS ON SEEDING AT CORVALLJS AND I'ENDLETON IN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1934n
Number of plants and number of rows in different experiments at
Pendleton
Corvallis
Treatment
Rate
Copper
content
per
bushel
Per cent
Ounces
Untreated, smutted
Physiologic
race
experimen t
105
3,745
35
Copper carbonate --------
18
2
Copper carbonate
18
3
Copper carbonate
52
2
Copper carbonate
52
3
Basic copper sulphate
52
treatments
Soil
infesta-
tion
experiment
lois lure
experiment
3,940
44
788
9
686
1,764
36
1,600
20
413
400
7
9
754
43
8
Basic copper sulphate
52
3
3,720
728
35
8
3,745
415
35
5
TOTAL
842
9
3,690
539
35
6
Formaldehyde (1-320)
Bluestone dip
Smut
balls
experiment
4,220
40
2,040
20
1,840
20
2,104
1,940
1008
20
8
16
Miscel-
laneous
seed
treat-
in en ts
225
558
5
9
2,835
360
541
35
5
7
24
5,629
50
1,040
8
920
572
8
5
Date of
treating
Rid it
experi-
nearest
check
ment
Total
9,677
90
3,537
30
1,235
43,601
431
12,538
3,277
30
3,324
10
(avei-
age)
984
24
2,000
20
1,800
20
460
20
1,600
20
8,452
30
95
3,205
7,653
73
12,313
3,167
1,016
3,160
1,141
98.6
30
10
102.7
101.2
tOl.7
131
30
11,346
97.7
109
2,699
616
840
8
536
8
tO
52
720
7,576
10
98.8
74
30
3,192
1,015
8
8
102.1
117
7,742
7,560
30
1,128
24
180.0
75
30
3,186
839
3,535
35
2
Date of
seeding
experiment
I Per cent
11,130t
New Improved Ceresan
Miscellaneous
seed
Percen tage
of
57.7
71.4
109
121,480
1,266
These refer in brief to the title of the experiments in which the treat ments were inch ded; ie., physiologic race experiment [mostly published
previously (Martin, F. and Sprague, R.) in J. Amer. Soc. Agron. vol. 30, 1938] ; miscellaneous seed treatments; soil infestation experiments; moisture
experiment; date of seed treating; etc.
t The large figure in each case refers to the number of plants and the small figure directly beneath to the number of rows in the experiment that
were treated with the particular seed disinfectant.
Table 14. SUMMARY OF THE STAND OF WHEAT BY HEADS AT HARVEST IN CERTAIN OF THE SEED-TREATMENT TRIALS WITH HYBRID 128 WHEAT SMUTTED
1-200 WITH STINRING SMUT AND SEEDED AT CORVALLIS, PENDLETON, Moao, AND CONDON DURING 1934-1938.
Number of rows and total number of heads
I
Treatment
r
Field run (check), untreated
New Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
New Improved Ceresan
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper carbonate
Copper Carbonate
Basic copper sulphate
Basic copper sulphate
Basic copper sulphate
Copper Hydro-40
Copper Hydro-40
Copper Hydro-40
Paris green
Smutted, untreated
TOTAL
Copper
content
Per cent
Rate per
bushel
Percentage
Rows
5.
356
493
318
18
2
18
18
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
row
Per cent
75
52
52
52
50
50
50
26
26
26
Heads
Ounces
of check
46,023
69,481
10,080
42,621
25,627
194
119
81
401
103
66
584
154
81
113
30
57
48
787
10,951
14,956
3,986
7,846
6,365
117,328
4,060
557,673
15,351
10,929
55,246
13,645
8,769
78,305
20,164
100.0
109.0
101.1
103.8
102.4
100.0
104.5
106.8
102.7
103.0
103.7
101.6
104.8
102.6
106.7
102.8
115.3
Percentage
rows with
better stand Percentage
than check
smut
Per cent
83.0
60.0
44.0
82.5
50.0
75.0
69.0
50.0
75.0
68.2
60.0
80.0
82.5
66.7
60.0
90.0
Per cent
3.5
8.9
5.7
0.9
20.4
15.4
12.1
7.4
6.6
4.8
5.4
4.0
3.4
7.8
7.0
5.0
1.5
62.9
CONTROLLING SEED-BORNE STINKING SMUT
33
Western Oregon
New Improved Ceresan, ounce.
Optional: the same copper dusts listed for Eastern Oregon may be
used in Western Oregon at 2 ounces per bushel; or, if the seed is definitely
smutty, it is better to use 3 ounces. The 18 to 20 per cent copper carbonates
may be used at the 3-ounce rate on spring-sown wheat.
New Improved Ceresan must be applied at recommended rates with
either a rotary drum equipped with modern positive ratchet feed or with
a gravity treater such as the ones detailed by the manufacturer. One of
the most satisfactory inexpensive gravity treaters is the one recommended
by Moore;* it consists of a series of baffles that turn the grain over as it
falls from a tiltable trough and eventually into a sack at the bottom. These
can be made by a careful handy man for about $5.00 and have proved surprisingly efficient even on good-sized wheat farms in some sections of the
Pacific Northwest. If rotary drums are used to treat grain with New Improved Ceresan, most farmers have found that there is a tendency to skip
at the i-ounce rate and many use about ounce to give good coverage.
Since New Improved Ceresan is volatile, however, this may not always be
necessary.
The 2-ounce rate with copper dusts would be sufficient in many cases
in Eastern Oregon if the rotary dusters gave perfect distribution. Under
farm practice it is well worth while to use 3 ounces per bushel to assure
complete coverage.
Most of the basic copper sulphates that have been tested have proved
less irritating to the person doing the treating than some of the chalkier
copper dusts, which result in a heavy fog during the treating and even
during the seeding operations. Elimination of a number of the 18 to 20 per
cent copper dusts should reduce the complaints about copper sickness as
the 52 per cent copper carbonates are not commonly as disagreeable. Any
of the treatments may cause illness in certain individuals. Changing to
another disinfectant under local conditions sometimes has proved beneficial to certain individuals, while the reverse has been true in other cases.
If treating is done in the open, New Improved Ceresan does not cause
serious irritation and the same holds true for the less chalky copper dusts.
Ordinary care with recommended quantities of dusts should eliminate a
large part of the difficulty.
Moore, M. B. The Minnesota Seed-Grain Treater. U. S. Department of Agricuiture.
Misc. Pub. 330. Oct. 1938.
OREGON STATE BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Edward C. Pease
F. E. Callister
Beatrice Walton Sackett
C. A. Brand
E. C. Sammons
Robert W. RuhI
Edgar William Smith
Willard L. Marks
Herman Oliver
Frederick M. Hunter, Ed. D., LL.D
The Dalles
Albany
Marsh/I eld
Rosebssrg
Portland
Medford
Portland
Albany
John Day
Chancellor of Higher Education
STAFF OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Staff members marked are United States Department of Agriculture
investigators stationed in Oregon
Geo. W. Peavy, M.S.F., Sc.D., LL.D
Wm. A. Schoenfeld, B.S.A., M.B.A
R. S. Besse, M.S
Esther McKinney
Margaret Hurst, B.S
President of the State College
Director
Vice Director
Accountant
Secretary
Division of Agricultural Economics
Agr'l. Economist; In Charge, Division of Agri. Economics
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Economics
W. H. Dreesen, Ph.D
Farm Management
Economist in Charge
D. C. Muniford, M.S
Associate Economist
G. W. Kuhlman Ph.D
Research Assistant
W. W. Gorton, sLS
Associate Agricultural Economist Soil Conservation
I-I. L. Thomas, M.S
State Land Planning Specialist, Division of Land Utilization
J. C. Moore, M.S
V. W. Baker, B.S Assistant Agricultural Economist, Division of Land Utiltzatiots
Division of Animal Industries
P. M. Brandt, A.M Dairy Husbandman; In Charge, Division of Animal Industries
Animal Husbandry
Animal Husbandman
R. G. Johnson, B.S
Animal Husbandniats
0. M. Nelson, B.S
Assistant Animal 1-lusbandinan
A. W. Oliver, M.S
Assistant Animal Husbandman
B. W. Rodenwold, M.S
Dairy Husbandry
Dairy Husbandman
G. H. Wilster, Ph.D
Associate Dairy Husbandman
I. R. Jones, Ph.D
Assistant
Dairy
1-lusbaudman
H. P. Ewalt, B.S
Research Fellow (Dairy 1-lusbandry)
Arless Spielman, B. S
Fish and Game Management
Wildlife Conservationist in Charge
R. E. Dimick, M.S
Assistant Conservationist
F. P. Griffiths, Ph.D
Associate
Biologist,
Bureau Biological Surveyn
A. S. Einarsen, B.S
Research Assistant (Fish and Game Management)
Frank Groves, B.S
Poultry Husbandry
Poultry Husbandman in Charge
I-I. E. Cosby
Poultry Husbandinan
F. L. Knowlton M.S
Research
Assistant (Poultry Husbandry)
W. T. Cooney, .S
Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarian in charge
J. N. Shaw, B.S., D.V.M
Associate Veterinarian
E. M. Dickinson, D.V.M., M.S
Associate Veterinarian
0. H. Muth, M.S., D.V.M
Associate Veterinarian
R. W. Dougherty, D.V.M
Assistant Poultry Pathologist
A. S. Rosenwald, ES., D.V.M
Technician
0. L. Searcy, B.S
Research Assistant (Veterinary Medicine)
Roland Scott, D.V.M
Research Assistant (Veterinary Medicine)
C. R. Howarth, D.V.M
Technician in Poultry Pathology
Marion Robbins, B.S
Division of Plant Industries
Agronomist; In Charge, Division of Plant Industries
G. R. Hyslop, B.S
Farm Crops
Agronomist; Division of Forage Crops and Diseases
H. A. Schoth, M.S
Associate Agronomist
0. D. Hill, Ph.D
Assistant Agronornist
R. E. Fore, Ph.D
Agent Division of Fiber Plant Tnvestigaiions
Elton Nelson, B.S.
Junior otanist, Division of Seed 1nvestiattousn
Louisa A. Kanipe, B.S
H. H. Ranipton, M.S Assistant Agronomist; Division Foreage Crops and Diseases
Assistant Agronomist
L. E. Harris M.S
Assistant Agronomist
I-I. E. Finrielf, M.S
Research
Assistant
(Farm Crops)
A. K. Gross, M.S
Food Industries
Horticulturist in Charge
E. H. Wiegand, B.S.A
Assistant Horticulturist
t. Onsdorff, h{.S
E. L. Potter, M.S
STATION STAFF(Continued)
Horticulture
.
Horticulturist
W. S. Brown, MS.. D.Sc
(Poniology) Horticulturist
H. Hartman, M.S
Horticulturist (Vegetable Crops)
A. G. B. Bouquet, M.S
C. E. Schuster, M.S 1-lorticulturist, Div. Fruit and Vegetable Crops and Diseases"
Horticulturist (Plant Proagation)
W. P. Duruz, Ph.D
Ass't. Pomologist, Div. Fruit and Veg. Crops and Diseases"
G. F. Waldo, M.S
Assistant Horticulturist (Pomology)
K. Hansen, M.S
Soil Science
Soil Scientist in Charge
W. L. Powers, Ph.D
Soil Scientist (Fertility)
C. V. Ruzek, M.S
Irrigation and Drainage Engr., Bureau Agric. Engineering"
H. R. Lewis, C.E
Soil Scientist
R. E. Stephenson Ph.D
Associate Soil Scientist (Soil Survey)
E. F. Torgerson B.S
Research Fellow in Soils
James Clement .ewis, B.S
Agricultural Chemistry
Chiemist in Charge
J. S. Jones, M.S.A
Chemist (Insecticides and Fungicides)
R. II. Robinson, M.S
Chemist (Animal Nutrition)
J. R. I-Iaag, Ph.D
Associate Chemist
I). E. Bullis, M.S
Assistant Chemist
M. B. Hatch, M.S
Assistant Chemist
L. 0. \Vright, M.S
Agricultural Engineering
Agricitltural Engineer in Charge
F. E. Price, B.S
Associate Agricultural Engineer (Farm Structures)
H. R. Sinnard, M.S
Assistant Agricultural Engineer
C. I. Branton, B.S
Agricultural Engineer, Bureau Agricultural Engineering"
W. M. Hurst, M.A
G. V. Copson, M.S
J. E. Simmons, M.S
Bacteriology
W. B. Bollen, Ph.D
C. P. Hegarty, Ph.D...
Bacteriologist in Charge
Associate Bacteriologist
Associate Bacteriologist
Research Assistant (Bacteriology)
Entomology
Entomologist in Charge
D. C. Mote Ph.D
J. C. Chanierlin, Ph.D
Asso. Ento. (Div. Truck Crops and Garden Insects)"
A. E. Bonn. B.S Junior Entomologist (Div. of Truck Crops and Garden Insects)"
H. A. Scullen, Ph.D
Associate Entomologist
Assistant Entomologist
B. G. Thompson, M.S
Assistant Entomologist
S. C. Jones, M.S
Assistant Entomologist
K. W. Gray, M.S
Assistant Entomologist
V. D. Edwards, MS
Assistant Entomologist
H. E. Morrison, M.S
Research Assistant (Entomology
roe Schuh, M.S
Research Assistant (Entomology
G. R. Ferguson, B.S
Maud Wilson, A.M
Home Economics
Plant Pathology
Home Econoniist
Plant Pathologist in Charge
C. E. Owens, Ph.D
Plant Pathologist
S. M. Zeller, Ph.D
Plant Pathologist"
F. P. McWhorter, Ph.D
Plant Pathologist (Div. Fruits and Veg. Crops and Diseases)"
B. F. Dana, M.S
Associate Plant Pathologist (Insecticide Control Division)"
D. Bailey, M.S
P. V. Miller, Ph.D
Assoc. Pathologist (Div. of Fruit and Veg. Crops and Dis.)"
Agent (Division of Drug and Related Plants)"
R. Hoerner, M.S
Agent (Division of Drug and Related Plants)"
R. F. Grah, B.S
R. Sprague, Ph.D
Associaie Pathologist (Div. of Cereal Crops and Diseases)"
Research Assistant (Plant Pathology)
John Milbrath, Ph.D
Publications and News Service
C. D. Byrne M.S
Director of Information
Editor of Publications
E. T. Reed, B.S
Editor of Publications
D. M. Goode, M.A
Associate in News Service
f. C. Burtner, B.S
Branch Stations
Supt. Hood River Branch Experiment Station, 1-Tood River
Leroy Childs, A.B
F, C. ReimerSuperintendent Southern Oregon Branch Experiment Station, Talent
Supt. Eastern Oregon Livestock Br. Expt. Sta., Union
D. E. Richards, B.S
H. K. Dean, B.S Supt. Umatilla Br. Expt. Sta. (Div. W. Irrig. Agri.), Hermiston"
Superintendent 1-larney Branch Experiment Station, Burns
Obil Shattuck, M.S
Supt. John Jacob Asior Branch Experiment Station, Astoria
I-I. B. I-lowell, B.S
R. G. Johnson 13.5 Acting Supt. Squaw Butte Regional Range Experiment Station
Asst. Supt. Pendleton Br. Sia. (Dry Land Ag.), Pendleton"
G. A. Mitchel(, B.S
Horticulturist, Hood River Br. Expt Sta., Hood fliver
C. G. Brown, A.B., B.S
Supt.
Medford Sta. (Asso. Irrig. Engr., Div. of Irrig.), Mediord"
Arch Work, B.S
Asso. Poinologist, Div. Fr. & Veg. Cr. & Dis., Medford"
E. S. Degrnan, Ph D
Junior Irrigation Engineer (Division of Irrigation), Medford"
Bruce Allyn, B.S
Associate Entomologist, So. Ore. Br. Expt. Station, Talent
L. G. Gentner M.S
J, F. Martin, 51.5 Juntor Agronomist, (Div. Cereal Crops and Dis.), Pendleton"
H, M. Oveson, M.S Superintendent Sherman Branch Experiment Station, Moro"
R. W. Henderson, B.S Research Assistant, Sherman Branch Experiment Sta., Moro
H. E. Hutchinson, M.S Asst. to Supt. Harney Branch Experiment Station, Burns
Jr. Pathologist, Div. Fr. & Veg. Cr. & Dis., 1-mod River"
J. R. Kienholz, Ph.D