Abstract
Four ASM (acibenzolar-S-methyl) concentrations were applied on wheat plants at different growth stages prior to inoculation with 1x105 conidia/ml of Fusarium graminearum. Thereafter, disease severity was monitored and recorded over time. All ASM concentrations reduced disease severity compared to the control. The best treatment, providing the lowest Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) units, high average Hundred Seed Weight (HSW) and reduced average Percentage Seed Infection (PSI), was 0.075 g/L ASM applied at anthesis. A weak but significant positive correlation was observed between AUDPC and PSI (r = 0.33; p = 0.0001). However, a moderate and weak negative correlation was observed between AUDPC and HSW (r = - 0.41; p < 0.0001) and HSW and PSI (r = - 0.18; p = 0.04) respectively. Higher ASM concentrations were more effective when applied at anthesis and lower concentrations at late boot. Moreover, repeated applications (applied at both late boot and anthesis) did not improve disease reduction. A disease reduction and deoxynivalenol (DON) reduction of up to 28.97% (0.075 g/L ASM applied at anthesis) and 18.79% (0.0375 g/L ASM applied at anthesis) was observed. However, DON and zearalenone (ZEA) reduction did not always correspond with disease severity reduction of tested treatments. This accentuates the importance of the development of integrated control strategies for the improved and effective management of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat.
Highlights
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is an economically important disease of cereal crops worldwide causing yield and quality losses and the contamination of grains with mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) (1, 2)
FHB is caused by a Fusarium-species complex consisting of up to 17 species, amongst which F. graminearum sensu stricto [teleomorph: Gibberella zeae (Schwein.) Petch] and F. culmorum (Fc)
Results revealed that salicylic acid (SA) signalling was induced early (12 hrs) after the inoculation of wheat spikes with F. graminearum whereas jasmonic acid (JA) signalling was induced later (48 hrs) (14). This led to a possible conclusion that SA signalling was responsible for basal resistance to FHB whereas JA signalling reduced further infection by the pathogen (14)
Summary
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is an economically important disease of cereal crops worldwide causing yield and quality losses and the contamination of grains with mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) (1, 2). These mycotoxins can have deleterious effects on both human and animal health (1, 2). FHB is caused by a Fusarium-species complex consisting of up to 17 species, amongst which F. graminearum sensu stricto [teleomorph: Gibberella zeae (Schwein.) Petch] and F. culmorum (Fc) (W.G. Smith) Saccardo are the most virulent species worldwide (1, 3-5). Previous efforts in the control of FHB have focused mainly on chemical control, the use of biological control agents (BCAs) and resistance breeding (1). Regardless of previously reported efficacies, the inconsistency and lack of durability of some BCAs, and the residue and resistance develop-
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