Abstract
Fusarium graminearum causes crown rot in wheat affecting seed germination, seedling establishment hence impacting crop productivity. Integrated disease management approaches includes cultural practices, use of good quality seed, resistant varieties, seed treatment. In this study, we surveyed wheat plant samples from South Dakota to determinethe prevalence and distribution of root rot pathogens. F. graminearum and Bipolaris sorokiniana were recovered from 100% and 48% of the root samples (n=39) collected, respectively. Further, we studied the effect of F. graminearum on the seed germination and seedling blight on spring wheat cultivars under greenhouse and field conditions. F. graminearum significantly affected the seed germination and seedling blight in 11 spring wheat cultivars, ranging from 75-96% and 0-9%, respectively in infested seed as compared to uninfested seed (control). The cultivars ‘Forefront’ and ‘Select’ were least impacted by the pathogen; whereas, ‘Russ’ and ‘Oxen’ showed a significant reduction in germination and higher seedling blight. Field experiments were conducted to determine the impact of source of inoculum, fungicide seed treatment and varieties on seed germination and seedling survival at two locations in 2015 and 2016. Cultivars Russ and Oxen showed poor seed germination and high seedling blight; whereas, Forefront, Selectand Briggs had higher germination and seedling survival. Fungicide treatment significantly increased seed germination. The source of inoculum was significant in 2015, however, it was not significant in 2016 due to less disease pressure. Our results showed that F. graminearum lowers seed germination and causes seedling blight in wheat cultivars and genetic variability exists incultivars. Hence the use of fungicide seed treatment can reduce the germination losses caused by the pathogen for fields likely to have high inoculum pressure or likely infested seed and use of tolerant cultivars like Forefront can further reduce the losses due to crown and root rot diseasent.
Highlights
Wheat is a principle staple food crop for 1/3rd of the world population and is the most widely cultivated, traded food crop, and on an average provides 21% calories and 21% protein to humans respectively [1,2].Sustainable wheat production has contributed to the economic growth and social stabilization in many regions of the world
In the both 2014 and 2015 survey, two fungal species, Fusarium graminearum and Bipolaris sorokiniana were the predominant species associated with root samples across the South Dakota
Survey results of this study showed that F.graminearum was the major pathogen responsible for crown rot in wheat followed by B.sorokiniana causing common root rot in South Dakota
Summary
Wheat is a principle staple food crop for 1/3rd of the world population and is the most widely cultivated, traded food crop, and on an average provides 21% calories and 21% protein to humans respectively [1,2].Sustainable wheat production has contributed to the economic growth and social stabilization in many regions of the world. No-Till farming practice with increased residue and favorable climate conditions are leading to an increase in residue and seed-borne disease [3,4,5]. Presence of the residue of the previous year crop can increase the primary inoculum level in the subsequent season crop alongwith the other cultural practices for disease management approaches [6,7]. There is root rot complex which impact the seed germination and seedling blight in wheat such as Fusarium crown rot and common root rot caused by Fusarium graminearum and Bipolaris sorokiniana, respectively
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