Fusarium Head Blight From a Microbiome Perspective

Abstract

The fungal genus Fusarium causes several diseases in cereals, including Fusarium head blight (FHB). A number of Fusarium species are involved in disease development and mycotoxin contamination. Lately, the importance of interactions between plant pathogens and the plant microbiome has been increasingly recognized. In this review, we address the significance of the cereal microbiome for the development of Fusarium-related diseases. Fusarium fungi may interact with the host microbiome at multiple stages during their life cycles and in different plant organs including roots, stems, leaves, heads, and crop residues. There are interactions between Fusarium and other fungi and bacteria as well as among Fusarium species. Recent studies have provided a map of the cereal microbiome and revealed how different biotic and abiotic factors drive microbiome assembly. This review synthesizes the current understanding of the cereal microbiome and the implications for Fusarium infection, FHB development, disease control, and mycotoxin contamination. Although annual and regional variations in predominant species are significant, much research has focused on Fusarium graminearum. Surveying the total Fusarium community in environmental samples is now facilitated with novel metabarcoding methods. Further, infection with multiple Fusarium species has been shown to affect disease severity and mycotoxin contamination. A better mechanistic understanding of such multiple infections is necessary to be able to predict the outcome in terms of disease development and mycotoxin production. The knowledge on the composition of the cereal microbiome under different environmental and agricultural conditions is growing. Future studies are needed to clearly link microbiome structure to Fusarium suppression in order to develop novel disease management strategies for example based on conservation biological control approaches.

Fusarium Disease of Maize and Its Management through Sustainable Approach

“…Many Fusarium spp. successfully survive on maize crop residue or in the soil as mycelium or other structures like F. graminearum produces chlamydospores and F. verticillioides (reported as F. moniliforme) can produce thickened hyphae capable of colonizing senescent tissues of the host plant [24,35]. F. verticillioides, F. subglutinans and F. proliferatum produce large numbers of microconidia and macroconidia on crop residues, and may act as the most important inoculum for Fusarium ear rot and symptomless kernel infection [25].…”

Bioprospecting Phenols as Inhibitors of Trichothecene-Producing Fusarium: Sustainable Approaches to the Management of Wheat Pathogens

“…Fusarium spp. are found in various ecosystems, including agricultural soils, where they have a relevant impact on cereal crops [1][2][3][4][5]. Among the most important cereal diseases, fusarioses are incited by a complex of toxigenic species of the genus Fusarium [6].…”

Influence of Structure of Detrital Food Webs on Fusarium Head Blight of Winter Wheat

“…Fusarium head blight (FHB) is an important disease that reduces cereal yields and leads to the accumulation of trichothecene mycotoxins (e.g., T2-toxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone) making the grain unacceptable for human consumption or animal feed [1][2][3]. In Europe, about 20 species from the genus Fusarium can cause FHB of cereals [4,5]. In agroecosystems, crop residues and soil (viz.…”