The transmission of seed-borne pathogens and the infection of the host plants are influenced by ambient conditions, mainly temperature and soil moisture. This research studied the effects of temperature and fungicide on the transmission of Bipolaris sorokiniana from seeds to above and below ground barley (Hordeum vulgare) plant parts. The rate of transmission and the potential for fungus sporulation on the apice of coleoptiles were also quantified. These studies involved two seed samples (treated or not treated with the fungicide iminoctadine at 70 g a.i./100 kg seed) sown in non-sterilized field soil at five temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 ºC). An additional trial was conducted in sand soil, at 25 °C, to follow the fungus transmission over a period of 35 days. The relationships of temperature to transmission were represented by quadratic model equations. The observed and estimated fungus transmissions were higher at 18 - 25 ºC and 18.1 - 21.3 ºC, respectively. The fungus sporulation was also influenced by temperature and reached its maximum at 19.3 ºC. The infection of barley coleoptiles initiated ten days after planting and increased steadily for more than 28 days.
