Mycopathologia (2003) 156, 25-30

H.M. Hussein, M.J. Christensen and M. Baxter (2003)
Occurrence and distribution of Fusarium species in maize fields in New Zealand
Mycopathologia 156 (1), 25-30
Abstract: Fusarium populations were investigated in maize grains and their husks about six weeks before harvest in three maize fields in the Manawatu region of New Zealand. The role of litter and soil as reservoirs for these fungi was also examined. Two techniques were used to examine populations, dilution plating and direct plating. Using the dilution plating technique the highest overall populations were found in husks (mean 2.2 × 10⁵/g) and litter (mean 1.4 × 10⁵/g), while similar lower numbers of viable propagules were obtained from grain (mean 2.1 × 10³/g) and soil (2.8 × 10³/g). With this technique five Fusarium spp. were commonly isolated; F. graminearum (Gibberella zeae), F. culmorum, F. subglutinans, F. oxysporum and F. acuminatum, of which F. graminearum was the most abundant. With the direct plating technique 87% of grains were infected with Fusarium spp., with some grains being infected with more than one species. Segments from husks and litter, 70% and 43% respectively, were colonised by Fusarium spp. F. graminearum was the most frequent species isolated from maize grain and husk segments (48.3 and 37.7% colonisation respectively). Other species, particularly F. culmorum and F. acuminatum, were also found to be common contaminants. A total of 15 Fusarium spp. was recovered from all material examined by both techniques. Cultures with characteristics resembling those of F. moniliforme were rarely observed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Michael J. Christensen

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Fusarium culmorum	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	New Zealand
	Fusarium graminearum	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	New Zealand
	Fusarium acuminatum	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	New Zealand
	Fusarium subglutinans	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	New Zealand