Fusarium head blight in winter wheat: development peculiarities and protective strategies

G.V. Avagyan¹* and H.S. Martirosyan²

¹Armenian National Agrarian University, Chair of Horticulture and Plant Protection, 74 Teryan Str., AM0009 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia (RA)
²‘Agrobiotechnology Scientific Center’ Branch of Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU), 1 Isi–Le–Mulino Str., AM1101 Ejmiatsin, Republic of Armenia (RA)
*Correspondence: gayaneavagyan@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Fusarium head blight (FHB, caused by the fungal plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) is a widespread fungal disease in the Republic of Armenia, affecting various cereal crops, including wheat, leading to a decrease in productivity and grain quality. However, comprehensive research aimed at selecting proper fungicides and determining the optimal application timing has not been conducted before.

FHB can undergo epidemic development during years characterized by favorable weather conditions. Conversely, during periods of adverse weather conditions, the severity and incidence of FHB tend to decrease notably. Abundant rainfall and mild temperatures render plants more susceptible, facilitating the spread of infection not only during the flowering of winter wheat but also at the waxy ripening stage, thereby increasing the risk of an FHB epidemic.

The experiments were carried out during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons under rain-fed conditions, with the primary focus on treating winter wheat with triazole group fungicides.

During years with adverse weather conditions for FHB development, a single application of Falcon (0.5 L ha^-1) or Prosaro (1.0 L ha^-1) at Feekes 10.5.1 proved to be an effective strategy for managing FHB, particularly when integrated with cultural practices. These treatments provided a biological efficacy of 80.6% to 83.3% at Feeks 11.2, and from 76.6% to 79.4% at harvest, respectively, increasing wheat yield by 37.62% to 42.9%.

In the case of epidemic development of FHB during years with more favorable weather conditions, a double fungicide treatment (Falcon or at Feekes 10.3 and Prosaro at Feekes 10.5.1) was the most effective option, showing high biological efficacy (97.4% at Feeks 11.2 and 90.3% at harvest) against FHB of winter wheat, increasing wheat yield by 40.1%.

Key words:

biological efficacy, Fusarium head blight, triazole fungicides, winter wheat

Detection of Trichothecene-producing Fusarium Species in Cereals in Northern Europe and Asia

T. Yli-Mattila

Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.; e-mail: tymat@utu.fi

Abstract:

Several toxigenic trichothecene-producing and nonproducing Fusarium species are involved in Fusarium head blight, which reduces both crop yield and quality in cereals. Climate change has altered crop production in many countries, and this in turn influences the pathogen populations. E.g. in northern areas a risk will be new toxigenic Fusarium species spreading to the north due to higher temperatures and the increased use of alternative hosts, such as maize, winter barley and winter oats. Traditional identifications and classifications of Fusarium species have been used for grouping isolates to species and grouping species according to shared morphological and cultural characteristics. During the last years researchers have started to use alternative ways for species identification and classification based on molecular data and phylogenetic analyses. The best way to identify and classify Fusarium isolates is the polyphasic approach by using all available characters.

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