Plant Pathology (2005) 54, 156-160

J.M. Brennan, D. Egan, B.M. Cooke and F.M. Doohan (2005)
Effect of temperature on head blight of wheat caused by Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum
Plant Pathology 54 (2), 156-160
Abstract: The effect of small temperature differentials (16 vs. 20°C) on the pathogenicity of deoxynivalenol producing single isolates of Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum and on the fusarium head blight (FHB) response of eight wheat cultivars was examined. Fusarium culmorum inoculation caused greater visual disease symptoms at 20°C than at 16°C, both overall and on an individual cultivar basis (overall AUDPC = 13.5 and 9.6, respectively) (P < 0·05). In contrast, F. graminearum inoculation caused greater overall visual disease symptoms at 16°C than at 20°C, both overall and at the individual cultivar level (overall AUDPC = 12.8 and 10.9, respectively) (P < 0·05). Results showed both F. culmorum and F. graminearum inoculations caused a greater loss in yield at 20°C (54.3 and 46.9% relative 1000-grain weight, respectively) compared with 16°C (73·3 and 66·9% relative 1000-grain weight, respectively) (P < 0·05). Fusarium culmorum-inoculated heads contained similar amounts of fungal DNA at both 16 and 20°C (1.9 and 1.7 ng mg^-1 of plant material, respectively) (not significant), while for F. graminearum inoculation, plants contained higher amounts of fungal DNA at 20°C (2.0 and 1.0 ng mg^-1 of plant material, respectively) (P < 0.05). Overall, there was a significant negative correlation between AUDPC and percentage relative 1000-grain weight at both 16 and 20°C (r = 0.693 and - 0.794, respectively, P < 0·01).
(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): Fiona M. Doohan

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Fusarium culmorum	Wheat (Triticum)
	Fusarium graminearum	Wheat (Triticum)