'r'éiion VeiucfaIIe Ikiest
0COLLECT(ON
Volume 23
Oregon State University, January 1974
Number 1
Sweet corn hybrids evaluated for head smut resistance
Resistance to head smut, caused by
the fungus Spacelotheca reilianum, has
become an important factor to consider
in sweet corn variety evaluation. The
disease is a limiting factor in yield
in many Western Oregon locations and has
forced farmers to abandon some fields
for sweet corn production.
Considering
the susceptibility range of all varieties available, the major commercial
hybrid, 'Jubilee' is only moderately
susceptible. However, this level of
susceptibility has apparently permitted
a build-up of the smut fungus, accounting
for the current problem.
Though varieties with much greater resistance have
been recognized for several years, the
iii
Zkis issue..
Sweet corn hybrids evaluated for
head smut resistance
1
Bean varieties screened for rust
resistance
3
Row spacing affects bush bean
yields in Northeast Oregon
4
Early eggplant varieties tested
for Western Oregon conditions
5
production and quality characteristics
of 'Jubilee' have made it difficult to
replace in both processing and fresh
market operations.
In both 1972 and 1973, varieties
included in sweet corn trials at Corvallis were also tested for smut resistance in two infested commercial
fields.
One near Scio, Oregon, providi
smut infection both years. The other
plantings, near Corvallis, were in two
fields which had a history of bad losses
from smut. However, infection was obtained only in the 1972 test.
Tables 1 and 2 show a well-defined
range of susceptibility among varieties,
even though a great variability in the
This variation,
tests is also apparent.
the result of the long plot areas crossing spots of high and low infection intensity in the field, may be due to
several factors which have not been
Soil moisture may directly
identified.
affect the infection process, or factors
affecting plant growth may indirectly
influence the percent of infection. In
these tests, a plant was counted as infected if there was any detectable symptom, which could range from heavy sporulation in the tassel or ear to a few
affected kernels, or could consist of
stunting with no normal ear development.
(Continued on next page)
Outstanding varieties observed during the two
years are 'Goldie', 'Triumphant II', 'Exp 1791',
'70-2367', '70-1717', 'Code 570', 'Gold Crown',
'Commander'.
This is an arbitrary list and others
such as 'Stylepak' are also resistant to a useful
degree.
Other varieties, such as 'Sugar Daddy',
'Spring Gold', and 'XP 1330' are highly susceptible
and should not be planted where smut is present.
Sources of varieties listed in the tables are
as follows:
Rogers Bros., P.O. Box 2188, Idaho Falls, Idaho
83401
Harris Seeds, Moreton Farm, Rochester, New York
14624
Ferry Morse Seed Company, Box 967, Mountain
View, California 94040
Table 1.
Asgrow Seed Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001
Northrup King and Company, 1500 Jackson St. NE,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413
Niagra Seeds, Western Research, P.O. Box 2508,
El Macero, California 95618
Charter Seed Company, P.O. Box 191, Twin Falls,
Idaho 83301
0 and G Seed Company, P.O. Box 787, Caldwell,
Idaho 83605
R. Baggett
h'orti culture Department
--J.
Head Smut Susceptibility Trials, Scio and Corvallis, Oregon, 1972
Sciob
Corvallis1
Variety
70-2416
Gold Crown
68-2631
E 1502
Stylepak
XP1330
Sugar Daddy
51036
NCX 2004
Gold Winner
Gold Cup
70-2428
63-1986
Source
1
2
1
3
3
4
3
5
6
2
2
1
1
Trail Blazer
Northern Belle
3
Goldie
5
2
5
3
Earlibelle
Yukon
FM Cross
Jubilee
2
1
16
25
4
2
12
24
25
29
25
42
16
8
0
3
4
Avg.
48
14
22
4
12
9
4
8
13
17
54
38
38
16
25
8
8
0
6
29
26
21
13
17
42
29
8
8
11
4
B
16
4
9
18
5
14
18
29
37
26
7
1
54
24
32
25
17
0
0
8
4
53
50
78
22
10
20
79
0
14
0
24
79
14
8
13
13
1
9
36
43
82
59
23
12
23
36
14
58
36
4
9
9
9
67
32
38
53
34
5
9
24
25
25
19
27
20
39
58
35
20
38
52
29
50
9
18
14
14
21
25
13
12
19
27
13
20
10
25
22
38
34
31
12
16
14
12
12
10
29
27
9
4
9
6
24
12
22
13
16
20
4
8
11
48
22
50
40
16
29
32
39
37
4
8
9
20
29
24
4
8
38
33
20
12
27
32
15
30
8
20
40
9
21
28
65
38
10
8
4
14
0
0
16
12
33
23
8
16
8
4
8
10
Code 596
7
26
64-2454
Code 556
1
16
7
8
16
8
Code 560
7
12
8
0
0
8
Ex 668
5
8
13
6
4
7
8
Code 550
7
-
8
29
24
17
24
20
Golden Cross B.
24
22
8
19
32
0
45
30
14
20
28
30
Location average
29
21
13
36
25
4
40
Controls3
24
11
4
13
28
47
90
26
16
18
32
12
10
56
38
8
21
15
0
Average
37
22
28
7
24
18
Avg.
13
12
17
36
46
0
1
36
Overall
4
32
4
23
41
20
50
28
Code 558
Ti
21
13
13
20
4
2
35
5
22
15
23
14
54
14
76
37
14
44
26
35
18
14
60
35
10
15
26
13
49
36
33
24
21
14
12
11
26
(excluding controls)
LPlots 20 ft. long with 18-24 plants, arranged in 4 rows in randomized blocks 140 feet long (plot area 560 feet
Planted Nay 26, readings on August 23.
loDg).
2plots 22 ft. long with 18-24 plants, arranged in 2 rows in randomized blocks 250 ft. long (plot area 1000 ft.
long).
Planted May 29, readings on August 24.
3Controls from commercial crop surrounding plots. Jubilee at Corvallis, Stylepak at Scio.
plots, one from each side of the plot area for each replication.
An average of 8
Oregon Vegetable Digest is published four times a year by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon State University, Corvallis, G. Burton Wood, Director. Address correspondence to the author concerned or to the Department of
Horticulture.
Material may be reprinted providing no endorsement of a commercial product is stated or implied. Please credit Oregon State TJniversity. To simplify technical terminology, trade names of products or equipment sometimes will be used. No endorsement of products
named is intended, nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.
2
Table 2.
No.
Vane ty
Head Smut Susceptibility Trial, Scio, Oregon, 19731
Source
Rep 1
5
2
Goldie
Code 560
7
0
0
3
E1502
3
4.7
4
Sugar Daddy
NCX242
81206
Code 540
Blitz
Triumphant II
Exp. 1791
3
0
A
79
5
5.9
11
12
70-236 7
1
13
14
15
Style .pak
Cade 577
1
5
6
7
8
9
-
10
16
17
18
S_p ring
Gold
NCX 245
Trail Blazer
Yukon
6
12.5
8
0
7
11.1
2
0
3
7
4
g
11.1
5.5
14.3
33.3
6
3
5
2
71-1 962
1
20
21
Code 545
JubIlee
22
23
NCX234
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
0
5.9
0
7
1
30.0
38 1
41:2
26.7
23.8
6.3
64.3
5.3
43.8
0
0
0
0
5.3
22.7
2
8.3
0
4.4
30.0
12.5
9.1
9.5
19.0
5
6
1
7
2
0
5
3
90
1011
7.1
0
0
0
2.9
8.9
3.9
40.9
8.5
1.9
4.4
3.2
1.8
2.9
1.5
36.5
5.3
36.8
9.1
0
0
6.7
0
5.9
0
5.5
0
23.6
8.3
18.3
23.6
55.5
0
10.5
10.0
0
9.1
0
0
0
5.0
7.1
18.8
0
15.4
0
53.3
0
0
0
70.0
19.2
0
46.7
5.9
14.3
25.0
29.9
20.0
58.8
17.7
8.3
11.8
6.7
4.8
6
1
1
Avg.
7.1
0
6.7
6.2
0
0
0
0
1972-'
Ren 4
60.0
5.5
7.7
0
0
4 7.1
Strndance
70-1631
70-1717
Sweet Sue
Exp. 668
NCX 2004
70-2428
Code 570
twiji
Golden
Bantam
check2
11.8
28.6
11.1
66.7
46.7
10.5
2
19
24
1 Infection
Rep 3
Rej2
0
68.7
0
9.5
0
Avg.
Commerc. Plots4
Avg % Inf.
.
9
11
13
59
9
7.0
9
5.5
2
13.
3
'
1
49
20. 0
5
27
16.0
22.3
11.4
33
3.0
7.9
0
4.4
14.0
24
5.5
12
13.2
26
2
0
42.9
11.8
58.1
12.4
8.0
7.2
Commander
XP1335
4
4
8.8
X1P1330
4
33.0
i-Plot area was two rows, 1,000 feet long; each variety was in four 22-ft. plots, with 15-25 plants/plot,
arranged in randomized blocks. Planted: June 11, 1973.
Infection recorded Sept. 11, 1973.
2Check variety score was from the crop of 'Stylepak' surrounding the plots.
For each replication one 22-ft.
plot on each side of the plots was counted and averaged for the score shown.
3Average from two locations, one in the same field at Scio, one from Corvallis.
4Averages of eight 25-plant plots, randomly taken from commercial trials in the same field at Scio, 1973.
Bean varieties screened for rust resistance
Since bush snap beans have largely replaced
pole varieties in the Willamette Valley, the bean
rust disease (Uromyces phaseoli) has not been much
of a problem. This is chiefly because most bush
beans complete their growth during the hottest and
driest part of the year and the short growing season
provides only a brief time when rust can build up
and cause damage. All the bush bean varieties
have had some screening for disease resistance and
most have a fair degree of resistance to certain
races of the rust fungus. Studies conducted in
the greenhouse indicated, however, that under conditions favorable to the disease, or when large
numbers of rust spores are present, many bush bean
varieties may become infected.
Frequent surveys during the last 15 years have
revealed only a single race of Uromyces phaseoli,
race 33, in Western Oregon.
In pole beans, rust
is common, particularly late in the season. In
bush beans, the disease is seldom seen except in
very late plantings when the plants are less vigorous
and are exposed to infection for a relatively long
time.
The purpose of these field tests was to determine the relative susceptibility of commonly grown
bush bean varieties and some breeding lines to natural infection when exposed to heavy "disease pressura"
Each plot consisted of a single row of the test line
with an artificially inoculated hill of the susceptible 'Pinto UI 111' 3 feet from each end of the row.
Each test row was thus exposed to large numbers of
air-borne spores from both ends. The entire test
area was surrounded by 2 rows of corn as a windbreak,
and the plots were irrigated frequently, using overhead sprinklers. No cultivating equipment was moved
through the test area after emergence of the bean
seedlings.
The plots were seeded May 25, 1973, and disease
readings were made August 15, when the pods were
fairly mature. The most heavily infected leaves
were selected from plants near the center of each
row.
Readings, therefore, show the maximum disease
3
addition, appearance of the infected leaves and relative size of the pustules was recorded. Results of
the tests are given in Table 1.
severity at the greatest distance from the source of
A. card having a hole 1 cm square was
inoculum.
placed over a section of the leaf lamina and the
number of pustules in the exposed area recorded.
In
Development of rust (Uromyces phaseoli) in bush snap beans exposed to natural field infections under
conditions of high infection potential, August 15, 1973
Table 1.
Mean number of2
Size of
-
Cultivar
Pinto UI
111*
p
ustules per cm
pus tules
Foliar
ye howing
General appear-
ance of plants
Severe
Very poor
Variable
Good
Variable
Good
Variable
B4840-7-2-1
2751
BBL 290*
45.8
24,8
23.8
23.4
22. 6
Medium
2217-2-3
21.5
sma 11
2665
20
.5
20. 4
Medium
Severe
Variab 1$
Variable
Slight
l90l7
B4840-F
19.5
Large
Slight
Poor
Variable
19.2
Laree
None
Poor
17.6
Medium
Slight
Var iable
Small
None
Exce
1963-7-7- 1
La rge
Medium
Moderate
Good
Ore. 5 8*
16.3
15. 3
14.1
None
Excellent
222 4-5
13.8
Variable
Slidit
Variable
5 8-BC-4-1-1
12.4
Variable
TempQ*
12.3
9.9
Large
Large
BC 16 8
1851-3-12
2217-29-2-1-1
Ore. 1604*
1752
B4840-8-2- 1
Gallatin 50*
Large
Small
Small
V
ariable
1. 9
Small
Severe
Slight
Slight
None
Shi ght
None
Variable
9 .4
Slight
Mode rate
None
None
ilent
Excellent
Variable
Exce ilent
Exce 11ent
Excellent
*Commercjal varieties; all others are Oregon State University breeding lines.
Although we seldom see rust on any of the snap
bean varieties grown in Western Oregon, none is
immune and, given favorable conditions for infection, an outbreak of rust of epidemic proportions is
possible. In the table, a variety with less than
10 pustules per cm2 would be considered highly re-
There was remarable uniformity in the number of
rust pustules per cm for any particular variety. On
the other hand, in some varieties the size of pustu1
and the general appearance of the infected plants
varied greatly, possibly indicating that the line was
segregating for these characteristics.
Greenhouse inoculation of bean breeding lines
to determine resistance to rust is a useful procedure,
making it possible to eliminate many susceptible
sistant, one with less than 15 per cm2 resistant
and one with 20 or more per 2 would be considered
susceptible to infection by our common rust race 33.
lines and to select lines with a high degree of resistance. It is believed, however, that testing for
natural infection under field conditions provides a
Fortunately, most of the varieties tested had
a degree of resistance to rust. 'Gallatin 50' was
by far the most resistant of the snap bean varieties
tested. The few pustules that were present were
more reliable estimate of the probable performance of
a variety under commercial growing conditions.
very small, with no yellow halo and no general
yellowing of the leaf lamina. None of the snap
beans tested approached the dry bean 'Pinto UI 111'
in susceptibility. It required only casual obser-
--Edward K. Vaughan
vation to distinguish the 'Gallatin 50' and 'Pinto
UI 111' plots from all others.
Botany and Plant Pathology Department
Row spacing affects bush bean yields in NE Oregon
Highest yields of bush beans were obtained In
closer row spacings tested in Umatilla County in
once-over hand harvesting the last of August consisted
of counting all plants in a plot and picking and
weighing all marketable pods. Sieve size distributiat
was determined by putting all pods through a grader
1973.
Row spacings used in two experimental plantings
were 7, 14, 21, and 28-inches. Seeding rates were
adjusted to increase the number of plants per foot
of row as the row width increased. Plant populations at harvest time were 113, 81, 80, and 66
thousand plants per acre for the 7, 14, 21, and 28inch rows. Plant populations for the three wider
row spacings were less than intended. Prior to
planting, Trifluralin (3/4 pound/acre) and two rates
of fertilizer were incorporated into the soil. Fer-
at Rogers Wahla Walla plant in Nilton-Freewater.
The highest yields were obtained from the narrowest row spacings in each experiment (Table 1).
Yields declined rapidly as the row spacings increased
with the lowest yields being harvested from the 28inch rows. Statistical differences in yields in
Experiment 1 were measured between the 7, 14, and
21-inch row spacings. The loss of several plots in
Experiment 2 prevented the analyzing of that experi-
Irrigation water was applied via sprinklers.
Blooming and pod set during the growing season
were observed to be extended over a longer period of
time than usual. This is borne Out by data of sieve
size distribution (Table 1). The large percentage of
size 1 and 2 pods and low percentage of size 4 suport
ment statistically.
tilizer rates were 40-60-0-30-10 and 80-120-0-30-10
pounds N, P205, K20, S, and Zn per acre to each row
spacing.
'Wondergreen 452' bush beans supplied by Rogers
Walla Walla, Inc., were planted in early June.
The
4
the field observations. Row spacing had no obvious
effect on sieve size distribution of the pods at
harvest.
No visible differences in growth and color were
observed during the growing season which could be
attributed to the two rates of fertilizer applied.
No difference in yield due to fertilizer was
Soil test values showed each soil to be
reasonably well supplied with nitrate nitrogen,
measured.
available phosphorus, and potassium. Available
nitrogen as nitrates was approximately 130 and 160
pounds per acre for Experiments 1 and 2 respectively.
Results of two years' experimental work indicate the yield of bush beans could be increased
40 percent or more by planting rows spaced 7 to 14
inches apart compared to the wider spacing now used.
--F. V. Pumphrey
Columbia Basin Research Center
--D. J. Burkhart
Umatilla Extension Agent
--N. S. Mansour
Extension Vegetable Specialist
Table 1. Yield and sieve size of 'Wondergreen 452' bush beans from four row spacings, Columbia Basin Research
Center, 1973
EXPERIMENT 1
EXPERIMENT 2
Row
Yield
Spacing
Inches
Tons!
Acre
1&2
21
20
19
21
24
14
21
28
5.6
5.0
3.6
3.3
3
LSD 5%
0.5
7
Yield
Sieve Size Percent
24
22
22
4
40
41
38
37
5&6
14
15
21
20
Tons!
Acre
Sieve Size Percent
1&2
3
4
4.2
3.5
19
24
44
38
2.8
19
15
28
27
27
26
48
2.5
5&6
39
9
11
15
11
Early eggplant varieties tested for Western Oregon conditions
The eggplant is a very marginal crop in Western
Oregon because of its high heat requirement for fruit
set and development. Even with black plastic mulch,
which appears to improve fruit production, popular
varieties produce very sparse and variable crops.
Most seed firms in the United States list the popu-
lar large-fruited varieties, such as 'Black Beauty',
which are egg-shaped and have attractive purpleblack color. Because previous trials have indicated
that some other types were more adapted to the ares,
a few varieties were grown in 1973 without plastic
mulch to observe earliness and production.
The trial was a small one, with 5 plants of
each variety in a 12-foot plot.
Greenhouse grown
transplants were set Out on May 11 into rows with
600 lb.!acre banded 8-24-8 fertilizer. Irrigation
was applied every 7-10 days during the summer.
Estimates of performance were made by picking
all usable sized fruits at arbitrarily determined
times. Also noted was the date when the first
feasible harvest was possible (such as for a home
gardener) and when a full crop was mature. Second
harvests were made on some early varieties which
continued to produce after the first crop was
picked.
In the table, the varieties are listed in order
of the first mature fruits which is slightly different than the order of first harvest. 'Morden
Midget', 'Money Maker No. 1' and 'Money Maker No.
2' are distinctly early. 'Short Tom', 'Long Tom',
'No. 29', and 'Black Jack' are also early when
yield of their first harvest on September 13 is considered. Of these 7 varieties, 'No. 29' and 'Black
Jack' produce generally typical large, egg-shaped
fruits, and those of 'Morden Midget' are also
egg-shaped but much smaller.
'Black Jack' was prob-
ably the outstanding variety for a combination of
fruit type and earliness. The remaining 4 early
varieties bear slender fruits which are equal in
quality, but are not of the type popular in the
United States. If seed companies in this country
were to list them, home gardeners or local market
growers would do well to try these varieties. The
dwarf, early 'Morden Midget' is available from at
least one retail source and should permit home
gardeners to succeed in many areas where standard
varieties fail.
Sources of varieties in the trial:
Geo. W. Parke Seed Co., P.O. Box 31, Greenwood,
South Carolina 29646
Takii and Co., Ltd., P.O. Box 7, Kyoto Central,
Kyoto, Japan
T. Sakata & Co., c,'o Herbst Bros. Seedsmen, Inc.,
1000 Main Street, Brewster, New York 10509
Stokes Seed Ltd., Box 548, Buffalo, New York
14240
Agway, Inc., Ithaca, New York 14850
W. Atlee Burpee Co., Box 748, Riverside, California 92502
Joseph Harris Co., Moreton Farm, Rochester, New
York 14624
--J. R. Baggett
Norticulture Department
Eggplant Variety Observations, Corvallis, Oregon, 1973
let
Var tety
ripe
the. per plant
Main
7.3
6.6
5.3
5.6
13.6
14.5
9,n
19.5
IT,O
34.0
21.0
J'()
10.8
1.8
8.6
15.5
5.8
21.3
0.41
11.4
11.6
23.2
8.9
6.2
30.7
14.2
0.37
0.82
5.2
10.S
2.5
5.0
4.6
7.5
9.9
fl.69
1.09
to it. Durnle
tar ge egg shape, some broad; fair color,
come str ipe
Broad egg, fair to good color
Eg to ned. I ong; good color, good Blac k
10.7
32.13
0.62
0.22
Near
18.6)
3.0 21.0
0.51
10.0
5.0
9.2
15.9
11.5
6.2
11.7
0.58
0.80
0,90
0.40
8-17
Money Ma16Y92
2
8-4
8-2
El
None y Maker #1
2
8-5
4-25
Short Tom
3
8- 4
8-31
7.0
Long Toe
3
8-4
8-15
8-31
9-13
9.7
8.6
8-18
8-20
9-13
9- 13
2.8
7.4
2.4
3.6
9-14
9-13
5.6
1.6
1.0
5.6
9.7
1.1
No. 29
3
Stokes Hybrid
Black -lack
4
WRIte Beauty
Large Frui ted #25
1
3
8-21
8-31
Jersey King
6
8-31
Hyb.
5
Earle Hybrid
6
9-31
Burpee Hybrid
6
9-1
7
3
9-2
9-5
Special Ilibush
Early Purple
2
---
9-15
AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION
of
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Director
FREE: Annual Report or Bulletin or Circular
or Report of Progress.
Permit 1115
POSTMASTER: Please return free if unclaimed. See Postal Laws and Regulations.
Notes
Poor, light, streaked color; broad egg
9.8
1
5.6
9-13
Avg.
4.2
8-31
Source
No. fruit per plant
Total
13.9
10-4 Total
crop
7-26
Morden Midget
9-25
1.7
5,0
4.9
8.2
5.2
3.9
6.6
7.2
4.3
1.0
0.4
0.8
9-31
9-13
5.3
8.5
28.8
10.8
9.2
9.2
5.6
4.7
9-25
10-A
7.5
2.2
4.0
8.6
7.3
1.5
1.2
2.5
Wt.
0.71
0.51
a ape var a. a, some cr00 a.,
color unit, purple
Si. rougher fhan Hone P Maker P2. lighter
color: some rrmnkad
Med. long, many crooked; var. color, black
Similar to Short Tom
Beauty type
Some green; small, egg shape
globe shape; color fair - some
striped and dull
V. tall plant; long pear shape; un
med.
purple smooth
Egg to pear; poor color; generally poor
CoccI shape and color; egg shape
Long-heavy; very good color; smooth
GeneraUy late and poor performance
POSTAGE PAID
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE
AGR 101
THIRD CLASS
BULK RT.
U.S.MAIL