Crop Rotation and Management Effect on Fusarium spp. Populations

Abstract

Fusarium spp. are common fungal pathogens that infect a number of field and vegetable crops. Crop rotation, genetic resistance, and fungicides are the primary methods used for managing these pathogens; however, there is a lack of information regarding the interactions between these management strategies and how they impact Fusarium spp. population dynamics. Therefore, the objective of this research was to quantify the effect of crop rotation and management (i.e., variety selection and fungicide use) on F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, and F. virguliforme populations in the soil using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Soil samples were collected in 2011 and 2012 from a long‐term corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation study near Arlington, WI, and populations for each species (spores g−1 of soil) were quantified from extracted soil DNA. Fusarium oxysporum was the most prevalent Fusarium sp. found. Crop rotation and management did not impact F. oxysporum populations nor F. virguliforme presence. A crop rotation by fungicide interaction was found for F. graminearum (P < 0.001), but this interaction was primarily affected by crop rotation. As expected, F. graminearum was found more often in plots with wheat as part of the rotation. This study found few interactions among crop rotation, variety selection, and fungicide use for controlling populations of three Fusarium spp. in the soil, and significant interactions or individual control methods were dependent on the species being examined.

Impact of Crop Residue and Corn-soybean Rotation on the Survival of Fusarium virguliforme a Causal Agent of Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybean

“…However, in their study they observed that the F. virguliforme population was not quantifiable from fields with wheat in rotation. Results of our microplot studies with diverse crop residue amendment are in agreement with findings of Almeida et al [29], Cotten and Munkvold [30] and Kommedahl et al [31] but differ from Marburger et al [32] for F. virguliforme.…”

“…Recently, Marburger et al [32] observed no significant effect of crop rotation sequences and management (variety selection and fungicide use) on F. oxysporum and F. virguliforme. However, in their study they observed that the F. virguliforme population was not quantifiable from fields with wheat in rotation.…”

Variability of Stem-Base Infestation and Coexistence of Fusarium spp. Causing Crown Rot of Winter Wheat in Serbia

“…The risk of controlling Fusarium spp. causing FCR is also accentuated by Marburger et al (2015) who noted that none of the management strategies employed in their study significantly reduced F. oxysporum. …”

Yield Response to Crop/Genotype Rotations and Fungicide Use to Manage Fusarium‐related Diseases

“…However, the parallel study examining the influence of these management practices on Fusarium spp. populations found F. virguliforme was present in 6.2% of plots examined (Marburger et al, 2015). Because F. virguliforme was present but SDS symptoms were not observed, this may only partially explain why the RRR rotation yielded the highest.…”

“…To examine interactions among multiple disease management practices, a comprehensive study was designed and implemented to meet two objectives: (i) identify possible combinations of practices that could reduce risk of disease development by decreasing Fusarium spp. populations (Marburger et al, 2015); and (ii) quantify the effect of combinations of these practices on yield (current study). In an earlier study, Marburger et al (2015) showed that there were few interactions among crop rotation, cultivar selection, and fungicide use that reduced soil populations of three Fusarium species, with significant interactions or individual control methods dependent on the species being examined.…”