The occurrence of virulent pathotypes of Leptosphaeria maculans in brassica seed crops in England

Virulent and non‐virulent pathotypes of Leptosphaeria maculans were differentiated on the basis of cultural characteristics and virulence to cabbage plants. Surveys of isolates obtained from oilseed rape crops grown in England in 1982 and 1983 showed that virulent pathotypes predominated in some areas whereas in others they were infrequent or absent. Overall 41% of isolates from this crop were of the virulent type. Virulent types usually occurred most frequently in areas with a long history or a high density of oilseed rape. In vegetable and forage brassica seed crops in Essex virulent isolates formed a small proportion of the population, except in one swede crop from which 95% of isolates were virulent. Host specificity was not detected in cross‐infection experiments using isolates from different hosts and localities.