Oat, ryegrass, and barley plants were grown in perlite with added nutrient solutions which varied in the Ca(N03}2: KH2P04 ratio. BYDV-infected 'Clintland 60' oats grown in high KH2P04 produced yellow streaking symptoms on leaves. Virus infection delayed ear emergence and reduced fresh and dry weights, especially in high Ca(N03}2 and low KH2P04. 'Grasslands Ruanui' ryegrass showed no BYDV symptoms on plants grown in a range of Ca(N03}2: KH2P04 ratios, although there was a significant reduction in yield of infected plants grown in high Ca(N03}2 and KH2P04. The time ofappearance ofprimary BYDV symptoms was later in resistant (CI 3926/3) than in susceptible (' Kenia') barley, both in winter and summer, and was little affected by varying the nutrient supply. Secondary symptoms were more severe in 'Kenia' than CI 3926/3 in summer, but less so in winter. Virus infection delayed ear emergence. The susceptibility of 'Kenia' and 4 Ethiopian cultivars (' Abate', CI 1227, CI 3926/3 and CI 9623) was compared. It is suggested that the time ofappearance and severity ofprimary leaf symptoms using a standard susceptible cultivar for comparison would provide a screening test for resistance to BYDV in barley.