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A polymerase chain reaction assay was developed for detection of Fusarium sporotrichioides, a plant pathogen in many parts of the world. Based on small nucleotide differences in ITS2 (Internal Transcribed Spacer) rDNA of our local isolate of F. sporotrichioides (Accession No. AY510069) and other isolates found in NCBI/GeneBank database, species specific primer FspITS2K was selected. Primer pair FspITS2K and P28SL amplified a fragment of 288 bp containing a portion of ITS2 and 28S rDNA of all the F. sporotrichioides isolates tested, originated from different hosts and regions of the world but did not amplify any other species of Fusarium and plant's DNA. To use the PCR assay in seed health testing, a protocol was setup for the rapid and effective preparations of fungal DNA from wheat seeds. The method developed may be useful for the rapid detection and identification of F. sporotrichioides both from culture and from plant tissue.

Information on seed physiology and biochemistry is presented under the following headings: the legume seed, including seed components and seed development; the accumulation and biosynthesis of carbohydrates, including accumulation of soluble carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides and oligosaccharides), biosynthesis of soluble carbohydrates (raffinose family of oligosaccharides, cyclitols and galactosyl cyclitols), accumulation of starch and biochemistry of starch; and physiological role of carbohydrates in legumes seeds, including during seed development (zygotic seeds, somatic embryos and mechanism of desiccation tolerance), during temperature stress, during seed storage and during germination (degradation of starch, degradation of raffinose family of oligosaccharides and the loss of desiccation tolerance).

We identified a species level of the fungal cultures isolated from selected crop seeds using traditional method and BIO-PCR. The use of BIO-PCR did not correspond completely to the morphological analyses. Both methods showed increased infection with F. poae in winter wheat seed sample originated from north Poland. Fungal culture No 40 (isolated from faba bean and identified with traditional method as mixed culture with F. culmorum and F. graminearum) did not produce expected product after PCR reaction with species specific primers OPT18F₄₇₀, OPT18R₄₇₀. However, the use of additional primers Fc01F, Fc01R allowed for reliable identification of F. culmorum in the culture

Faba beans are considered to be one of the most important leguminous crops. The species is characterized by high nutritional value, in terms of both energy and protein content, which makes it suitable for food and feed production. Fungal diseases are among the key biotic factors responsible for a decline in faba bean yields. In this study, the yield and health status of faba bean seeds from the region of Warmia and Mazury (WM) and the region of Lower Silesia (LS), in Poland, were determined. Correlations between weather conditions vs. the yield of faba bean seeds and the occurrence of saprophytic and pathogenic fungi were analyzed. The study revealed that temperature and precipitation influenced the development and yield of faba beans in successive growth stages. Temperature exerted the greatest effect on the yield of faba beans during inflorescence emergence (BBCH 55-Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical Industry), whereas the effect of precipitation was the maximum at the 4-5 leaves unfolded stage and at the end of flowering (BBCH 69). The occurrence of saprophytic, pathogenic, and toxin-producing fungi was influenced by temperature and precipitation in the flowering stage (BBCH 61-64).Agronomy 2020, 10, 48 2 of 13 20 fungal species belonging to 13 genera, i.e., Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Botrytis, Cephalosporium, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Rhizopus, Stemphylium, Trichothecium, and Verticillium, were isolated from faba bean seeds. Pathogenicity tests revealed that Cephalosporium sp., F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. verticilioides, R. solani, and V. dahliae were the most pathogenic fungi isolated from decaying faba beans seeds. The cited authors observed correlations between the incidence of diseases caused by the above fungi and the concentrations of total phenols, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids in plant tissues, and they concluded that pathogen-free seeds must be used to produce high-quality faba beans. Pathogenic fungi not only decrease crop yield and quality, but also produce mycotoxins-toxic secondary metabolites that contaminate foodstuffs and feedstuffs [14]. According to Gleń [15], the suitability of seeds for human consumption, as animal feed, and as planting material is determined by their microbiological purity. Adequate plant protection during the growing season can improve the health status of seeds, while synthetic fungicides that are highly effective can be used for controlling phytopathogens. Fungal colonization significantly decreases seed vigor and germination capacity and causes plant infections during the growing season [16]. Due to considerable varietal differences, faba bean cultivars are characterized by different susceptibility to fungal infections. In Poland, faba bean yields and disease resistance are significantly affected by variable weather and soil conditions [12]. Global climate change is also an important consideration in agricultural production [17]. According to Fahad et al. [18], suboptimal water supply and temperatu...

The after-effects of pre-preceding crops (second year), i.e. legumes and spring wheat, and nitrogen fertilization rate (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N/ha) on the yield and chemical composition of winter wheat grain were analysed in a field experiment conducted in 2013–2015. Winter wheat was characterized by higher yield when sown after blue lupine (increase of 0.23 t/ha) and faba beans with a determinate growth habit (increase of 0.37 t/ha) than after spring wheat. Grain yield increased significantly with a rise in nitrogen fertilization rate (by 2.03, 3.47 and 4.02 t/ha, respectively). The species of pre-preceding crops had no significant effect on the phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium content of winter wheat grain. Winter wheat grown after faba beans with an indeterminate growth habit was most abundant in nitrogen. The applied nitrogen fertilizer rates did not modify the concentrations of phosphorus, magnesium and calcium in winter wheat grain. The nitrogen content of grain increased significantly with a rise in nitrogen fertilization rates. A significant increase in manganese and zinc levels was observed when spring wheat was the pre-preceding crop and the iron content of grain increased significantly when winter wheat was grown after peas and blue lupine.