Fusarium spp. and Microdochium nivale Infestation of Asymptomatic Wheat Kernels in Slovakia

Abstract

In this work the occurrence, level of infestation and Fusarium species spectrum in winter wheat seeds were evaluated. The Fusarium species were isolated from the asymptomatic seeds of the same cultivars collected from several locations of Slovakia, after standard harvest. The highest level of infestation was recorded in Malý Saris and Vigl’as- Pstrusa - the most wet and cold locations among the evaluated ones. The species spectrum differences in cultivars within each locality were small and negligible. Greater differences were observed among locations, without cultivars specification. F. poae was the predominant species in locations with low infestation level of seeds. The species spectrum was wider in locations with higher infestation level and the dominant species was Microdochium nivale followed by F. poae. Other species - F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. acuminatum, F. sambucinum, F. sporotrichioides, F. graminearum, F. semitectum, F. tricinctum, F. compactum and F. oxysporum were less frequent. These facultative pathogens in asymptomatic grains are important for distribution trough the seeds for sowing and important for further infections and epidemiology in the field.