Fusarium graminearum (FG) is the most prevalent Fusarium Head Blight (FHB)
fungus in Switzerland. In conventional agriculture, fungicides are used to reduce the
risk of FHB infection and mycotoxin contamination of wheat. As an alternative for
organic wheat production, we examined plant-based products that showed antifungal
effects from our previous late blight field trials. In bioassays, the effect of these
antifungal plant preparations (APP) was screened against FG. In 2006 and 2008, the
most active APP, Rheum palmatum, Frangula alnus and preparations of Galla
chinensis as well as a plant substance (PSX), were used as FHB control agents in
field trials with artificial FG infections. In both years, FG incidence and deoxynivalenol
content were significantly reduced by the APP. In 2006, the reduction was in the same
dimension as applications with Pronto Plus®, a fungicide mixture of tebuconazole and
spiroxamine
