Species Composition of Fusarium Fungi Revealed on Spring Barley Crops in Central Russia in 2015–2017

Abstract

Species composition of Fusarium fungi and the frequency of their occurrence on spring barley crops in the Moscow, Tula, and Vladimir oblasts of Russia have been studied in 2015–2017. Over 700 strains of fungi belonging to 12 species of the genus Fusarium have been isolated into pure culture. The species composition of these fungi in the studied regions includes both common and rare species. Fungal cultures isolated from roots and reproductive organs demonstrated a high uniformity of their species composition that may be explained by a similarity of soil and climatic conditions and by the susceptibility of barley cultivars to soilborne micromycetes. The frequency of occurrence of the fungi on underground parts of plants was rather uniform, while that on the grain depended on the environmental conditions prevailing during the flowering and ripening stages. Among isolated Fusarium strains, 33 isolates with stable morphological and cultural characteristics have been deposited into the State Collection of Plant Pathogenic Microorganisms. Strains with the highest pathogenicity and toxicity were recommended for the artificial infection background created during regional trials of barley cultivars for disease resistance.