Micromycetes associated with barley and their significance as pathogens in Russia

Abstract

Despite the great attention paid to the study of barley diseases, inaccuracies in the names of diseases, their practical significance, and incorrect use of the scientific names of causal agents can be commonly found in the scientific literature. This may lead to confusion and misidentification of the pathogens that can affect this crop especially as relates to phytosanitary requirements. This review continues the series started with a publication devoted to wheat diseases. This review includes information about the main barley diseases and pathogenic organisms causing them, as well as the species emerging as a potential threat to barley. The current taxonomic status of fungal species and fungal-like organisms associated with various organs of barley is given, and the breadth of their distribution and degree of impact on the crop are summarized. The micromycetes were divided into two groups according to their phytosanitary importance. The first group is represented by fungi of great importance as the pathogens causing the 29 economically important common barley diseases. The second group consists of fungi causing 20 minor and poorly studied diseases with unconfirmed harmfulness, or potential endophytic fungi. Perceptions of their ability to cause disease remain controversial and the available data require confirmation. This dataset can be used as a reference for a more accurate description of the phytosanitary situation. The review will also be helpful for more targeted studies using molecular techniques to clarify taxonomy and areals of fungi associated with barley and to provide more detailed data on disease damage in this crop.