Isolation ofFusarium graminearumfrom cereal, grass and corn residues from Alberta, 2001–2003

Abstract

Fusarium species, which are typically associated with fusarium head blight of cereals, were isolated, identified and enumerated from residues collected in 239 cereal, 71 corn and 201 grass fields/sites in Alberta from 2001 to 2004. Cereal and grass residues were collected in the Peace River, central and southern regions of Alberta, while corn samples were collected from central and southern Alberta. The most frequently recovered species were F. avenaceum and F. culmorum followed by F. pseudograminearum and F. graminearum. Outside of southern Alberta, the most important causal agent of fusarium head blight, F. graminearum, was isolated at low levels in only one of 163 cereal fields, and was not isolated from the 39 corn fields or 105 grass sites surveyed. In contrast, in southern Alberta, F. graminearum was isolated from cereal residues in 10 of 76 cereal fields. Relatively high levels (46-50%) of node and crown infection occurred in one southern Alberta field in 2003. Fusarium graminearum was most common in corn residues from southern Alberta, being isolated from 24 of 32 fields, with average incidences of node infection ranging from 10 to 60% within these fields. In contrast, only three of 96 grass sites in southern Alberta had detectable, albeit low, levels of F. graminearum. The infrequent occurrence of F. graminearum, especially in central Alberta, and the Peace River region, suggests that Alberta's agricultural industry should continue to monitor its presence in grain and crop residues, while attempting to limit further build up and spread of this pathogen.

Building on a foundation: advances in epidemiology, resistance breeding, and forecasting research for reducing the impact of fusarium head blight in wheat and barley

“…The infection can spread to other spikes or can move along the entire head, as seen in wheat. Infective bodies are primarily derived from the infected residues of preceding crops (Dill-Macky and Jones 2000) and/or non-crop grass species (Turkington et al 2011). Infection is initiated by the release of sexual spores (ascospores) from the perithecial bodies that develop on crop residues and are carried to host spikes via wind.…”

Fusarium graminearum: pathogen or endophyte of North American grasses?

“…There is evidence that endophytic fungi may exhibit some level of host adaptation, as the same fungal species have been isolated from the same host over time and geographic space. For example, Fusarium avenaceum and F. tricinctum have repeatedly been reported as symptomless colonizers of wild grass species (Inch & Gilbert, 2003;Harrow et al, 2010;Turkington et al, 2011;Postic et al, 2012) and occasionally forbs (Hodgson et al, 2014). Fusarium verticillioides has been reported as both a symptomless endophyte and a pathogen of corn (Bacon & Hinton, 1996).…”

Estimation of Mycotoxin Multiple Contamination in Mexican Hybrid Seed Maize by HPLC-MS/MS

“…Producer's corn requires protecting seed before planting; using fungicides, insecticides and synthetic dyes as yellow, green and pink to prevent consumption by people [2]. Studies show that a co-occurrence of fungus and mycotoxins in harvest and post-harvest maize is possible around the world [3], but there is not enough information in the chemically treated seed previously sowing. Mycotoxins are a group of secondary metabolites produced by different fungus in maize, one of the most toxic compounds known for humans [4].…”