Abstract
Wheat is a source of nutrients for around 40% world’s population and the second most important cereal crop in Kenya. However, Fusarium head blight (FHB) hinders sustainable sufficient production of the crop, causing both economic and health losses. With the emerging unfavorable climatic changes, effective disease management strategies and adequate seed system are necessary to meet the deficiency. Current information on prevalence of the causative pathogens in varieties of wheat genotypes is a critical prerequisite to such strategies. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of pathogenic Fusarium species in seeds of developed varieties of wheat genotypes in three major wheat-producing regions in Kenya. A total of 260 samples of 18 wheat genotypes from 123 farms were collected. Peptone pentachloronitrobenze agar was used for fungal isolation, while identification of Fusarium spp. was based on the gene encoding translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-alpha) sequence analysis. Fusarium spp. isolated include Fusarium poae, F. tricinctum, F. heterosporum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, Fusarium sp., F. verticillioides, and F. oxysporum. There was no significant difference in prevalence of Fusarium spp. pathogens among the three regions studied. Fusarium spp. diversity index for Nakuru was 2.008, Narok was 1.4603, and Uasin Gishu was 1.2337. Wheat produce from farm-saved seeds yielded 66.25% of the isolates, while the produce from certified commercial wheat seeds yielded 33.75% of the isolates. The significant finding of the study is that Fusarium spp. associated with mycotoxins that contaminate the wheat food chain seem to be flourishing in all the sampled wheat seed genotypes from the regions studied. Information on the prevalence and diversity of the pathogens on persistence of the disease in the crop is critical in advancing integrative FHB control measures.
Highlights
Fusarium spp. is one of the most significant filamentous pathogenic fungal genera that is ubiquitous around the globe. ey are field or soil fungi, causing wilts, seedling blights, rots, and cankers in susceptible plants [1]
Agro-economic factors that determined farmers’ choice of wheat seed genotype to cultivate varied from potential weight of wheat yield, resistance of wheat grains to pests in storage, affordability of wheat seed genotype, resistance of wheat genotype to wheat rust, availability of the seeds of genotypes released in the market and free wheat seed genotypes offered for research purposes or for production of certified wheat seeds
Discussion e findings of this study suggest that freshly harvested wheat produce of both farm-saved and commercially processed wheat seeds was significantly infected with pathogenic Fusarium spp. that may inherently affect plant growth from germination
Summary
Fusarium spp. is one of the most significant filamentous pathogenic fungal genera that is ubiquitous around the globe. ey are field or soil fungi, causing wilts, seedling blights, rots, and cankers in susceptible plants [1]. Wheat is Kenya’s second most important cereal crop after maize and an economically important crop among the large and small-scale farmers [21]. It is grown in areas above 1500 metres above sea level, in southern and upper Rift Valley regions (Nakuru, Narok, and Uasin Gishu) and in the eastern part of Kenya (Nanyuki and Meru). Wheat production is carried out by small, medium and large-scale farmers and the industry, supported by about 20 millers, contributes 1.4% and 30% to overall and cereal GDP [22], respectively. Wheat requires a fine planting bed for uniform germination. Diammonium phosphate (DAP) at 200–250 kg Ha− 1 is recommended as determined by factors such as the stage of the crop, since availability of nitrogen is important during tilling, stem extension, and ear emergence
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