Fungal infection of malt barley kernels in Slovak Republic

Abstract

The influence of agro-environmental factors (year, cultivar and climatic factors) on the occurrence of fungi on kernels of malt barley, species spectrum and seedling viability were evaluated during 2004 and 2005. The seeds (asymptomatic, fraction above 2.5 mm) originated from different cultivars and locations of the Slovak Republic. Surface sterilisation of the kernels before isolation of the fungi was the key factor for objective results on the occurrence of <i>Fusarium</i> species. Screening of non-sterilised kernels gave a different spectrum of fungal species and their frequency and may lead to distorted results. The most frequent species isolated from barley kernels were <i>Alternaria</i> spp., <i>Cochliobolus sativus</i>, <i>Epicoccum nigrum</i>, <i>Fusarium</i> spp. and </i>Pyrenophora teres</i>. The results confirmed that agro-environmental factors (mostly year and microclimatic conditions) had a major influence on infection by and population structure of fungi in malt barley kernels. The total sample infection by <i>Fusarium</i> spp. was significantly higher at localities with higher altitude and in 2005. The infection level varied from 0% to 20%, in some localities in 2005 it exceeded 20%. The widest fungal species spectrum was recorded in the locations with high level of kernel infestation. In localities with lower infection, the species spectrum was narrower.