Infection timing affects Fusarium poae colonization of bread wheat spikes and mycotoxin accumulation in the grain

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fusarium poae is one of the most common Fusarium head blight (FHB) causal agents in wheat. This species can biosynthesize a wide range of mycotoxins, in particular nivalenol (NIV). In FHB epidemiology, infection timing is important for disease occurrence, kernel development, symptom appearance and mycotoxin accumulation in grain. The present study explored, both in a controlled environment and in a 2-year field plot experiment in Central Italy, the influence of five infection timings (from beginning of flowering to medium milk growth stage) on F. poae colonization and mycotoxin accumulation in bread wheat spikes (spring cv. A416 and winter cv. Ambrogio).RESULTS: Both climate chamber and field experiments showed that early infection timings (from beginning of flowering to full flowering) especially favoured F. poae colonization and accumulation of its mycotoxins (particularly NIV) in grain. By contrast, later infection timings (watery ripe and medium milk) reduced F. poae development and mycotoxin levels. The time window of host susceptibility in the field was shorter than that observed under controlled conditions. Symptom expression in kernels also differed among infection timings. In general, F. poae biomass was higher in the chaff than in the grain.CONCLUSION: These results enhance knowledge of a common member of the FHB complex worldwide, and could be useful in forecasting the risk of F. poae infection and mycotoxin contamination.

A comparison between the role of enniatins and deoxynivalenol in Fusarium virulence on different tissues of common wheat

“…FHB is considered a disease complex because it is caused by different species belonging to multiple Fusarium species complexes [ 5 ]. The composition of the FHB community is dynamic [ 6 ] and could be shaped by agricultural practices, susceptibility of cultivated varieties, and climatic conditions (especially during anthesis) as well as fungicide application [ 7 – 10 ]. Globally, Fusarium graminearum is considered the most important FHB causal agent due to its high incidence and virulence [ 11 ].…”

Impact of Enniatin and Deoxynivalenol Co-Occurrence on Plant, Microbial, Insect, Animal and Human Systems: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

“…It is able to impair grain yield and quality due to mycotoxin accumulation. Fusarium species distribution is usually related to agricultural practices, cultivar susceptibility, climatic conditions (especially at wheat anthesis), and fungicide application [3][4][5][6][7][8]. For this reason, the composition of the species involved in the FHB complex is dynamic [9].…”

Different diagnostic approaches for the characterization of the fungal community and Fusarium species complex composition of Italian durum wheat grain and correlation with secondary metabolite accumulation

“…Many Fusarium species are associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB), a wheat disease resulting in yield losses and quality reduction due to grain mycotoxin contamination 14,15 . The distribution of Fusarium species is influenced by climatic conditions (especially during anthesis), agricultural practices, fungicide application, and cultivar susceptibility 5,6,16‐25 . These aspects give dynamism to the Fusarium “consortium” associated with grain 7,26,27 …”

“…14,15 The distribution of Fusarium species is influenced by climatic conditions (especially during anthesis), agricultural practices, fungicide application, and cultivar susceptibility. 5,6,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] These aspects give dynamism to the Fusarium "consortium" associated with grain. 7,26,27 The main FHB causal agent is the aggressive species Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto (hereafter F. graminearum), a member of the Graminearum clade of the Fusarium sambucinum species complex (FSAMSC).…”