Barley Leaf Stripe Disease in Algeria: Evaluation of Virulent Pyrenophora graminea Isolates and Identification of Resistant Algerian Barley Genotypes

Nine isolates of Pyrenophora graminea, barley leaf stripe disease causal agent, collected from several regions in Algeria  were evaluated under greenhouse conditions for their virulence to a collection of barley cultivars including three most  cultivated Algerian varieties. Virulence levels were observed among the set of isolates and a mean disease rate ranging  from 3.33% to 75.83% was found. Pathogenic variability of P. graminea and resistant gene effects in barley cultivars  were revealed. Isolate OS was the most virulent among P. graminea isolates making it a suitable virulent isolate in future  breeding programs. A set of 8 barley genotypes composed of common Algerian cultivars and local developed lines  were tested for their reaction to P. graminea and yield response. Barley cultivar Minnesota 23 and line 18/17/7L2 were  the most resistant of the collection with high grain number/ear and thousand grains weight even when diseased. These  genotypes could be useful to integrate as candidate genitor plants into barley breeding programs to develop resistant  cultivars to leaf stripe disease.