Colonization of cereal and noncereal crop residues by Fusarium spp. in southeast Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedIn July of 2000 and 2001, residues of wheat, barley, oat, canola, flax, lentil and pea crops were sampled from over 300 fields in southeast Saskatchewan. The non-cereal crops sampled had been preceded by a cereal crop, whereas the cereal crops sampled had been preceded in most cases by a non-cereal crop the previous year, and by another cereal crop one to three years previously. Residues were surface-disinfested and plated on nutrient agar for fungal identification. The most commonly isolated Fusarium species was F. avenaceum. Among those at lower levels were F. acuminatum, F. equiseti, F. culmorum and F. graminearum. Based on total fungal isolations, the relative percent isolation of most Fusarium spp. was similar for all residue types. However, the actual percent isolation of Fusarium spp. from canola residues was lower than from the other residue types. F. avenaceum was found at the highest levels in lentil, pea and flax residues. All Fusarium spp. found in/on residues were also previously isolated from wheat and barley heads affected by Fusarium head blight (FHB) in Saskatchewan, although at different relative frequencies. Colonization of canola, flax, lentil and pea residues by Fusarium spp. commonly associated with FHB and root rot of cereals suggests that rotations with these non-cereal crops might not be an effective control strategy against cereal diseases caused by Fusarium spp. in Saskatchewan. This is the first report of isolation of F. graminearum from residues of the most commonly-grown non-cereal crops in western Canada

Fusarium head blight in wheat and barley in Saskatchewan (1998 and 1999)

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Distribution of Fusarium spp. causing head blight and root rot in cereals in Saskatchewan in 1998

Non-Peer ReviewedFusarium spp. are important cereal pathogens that can cause diseases of heads/seeds, crowns and roots. Some of the Fusarium spp. responsible for Fusarium head blight (FHB) have also been found associated with root rot of wheat (Windels and Holen, 1989). In Saskatchewan, Sallans and Tinline (1969) identified Cochliobolus sativus as the main root rot pathogen in wheat, although Fusarium spp. have also been isolated from diseased subcrown internodes (Harding, 1973). There has not been a comprehensive study of cereal root rot pathogens in Saskatchewan to determine the relative importance of these different fungi, their distribution in different soil types, and whether or not the Fusurium spp. isolated from infected roots are the same as those causing FHB. Determining whether the most important Fusurium spp. associated with FHB can also be found colonizing roots would be an important step in trying to understand the epidemiology of FHB

Fusarium spp. isolated from heads and roots/crowns of wheat and barley in Saskatchewan in 1998-99 and their ability to cause Fusarium head blight

Non-Peer ReviewedA study was undertaken to identify root/crown pathogens of common and durum wheat and barley across Saskatchewan, determine their distribution in different soil types, and compare Fusarium spp. isolated from infected roots/crowns with those causing Fusarium head blight (FHB). Determining whether the most important Fusarium spp. associated with FHB in wheat and barley can also be found in infected roots/crowns, and the pathogenicity of these isolates to heads, would be an important step in trying to understand the epidemiology of FHB, and prevent the further spread of this disease in the province

Fusarium head blight in Saskatchewan in 1998

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Fusarium head blight in Saskatchewan (1998-2001)

Non-Peer ReviewedProvince-wide surveys were conducted in Saskatchewan for the last few years to monitor the development of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and determine the Fusarium spp. involved. These field surveys were supported by Agriculture Development Fund and conducted with the assistance of extension agrologists, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. Seed surveys for Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) have been conducted by the Canadian Grain Commission with grain samples obtained from across Saskatchewan

Fusarium head blight in Saskatchewan (1998-2000)

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