RELATIVE DECLINE OF OPHIOBOLUS GRAMINIS, HELMINTHOSPORIUM SATIVUM AND FUSARIUM CULMORUM IN THE SOIL
The relative decline of three cereal root pathogens, Ophiobolus graminis Sacc., Helminthosporium sativum P. K. B., and Fusarium culmorum (W. G. Sm.) Sacc., in natural and sterilized black loam soil, was studied using inoculum grown in a sterilized soil-cornmeal medium. Since the severity of infection of wheat seedlings by the above fungi proved directly proportional to the amount of inoculum added to natural soil, it was used as a measure of the amount of effective inoculum in the soil at a given time. It was found by this means that inoculum of all three pathogens diminished greatly in amount in natural soil during the first few days following its addition, with that of O. graminis declining least, that of H. sativum more, and that of F. culmorum most. The decline rate was proportional to the amount of inoculum. After one week the decline had progressed further, but it was less for O. graminis than for the other two pathogens. In 3–4 weeks the amount of all three had reached a near-zero quantity. In sterilized soil the decline was similar to that in natural soil after the sterilized soil became recontaminated. However, that of F. culmorum was less pronounced here than in natural soil. Marked decline of O. graminis also occurred in natural soil supporting a seedling wheat crop. In large measure the decline studied appeared to be a quantitative degenerating process resulting from the activity of soil micro-organisms.