Visual Assessment of the Severity of Fusarium Seedling Blight (FSB) and Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) Disease in Barley

Abstract

Fusarium pathogens are among the most damaging pathogens of cereals. These pathogens have the ability to attack the roots, seedlings, and flowering heads of barley and wheat plants (Simpson et al., 2004). Resulting in yield loss and head blight disease and also resulting in the contamination of grain with mycotoxins harmful to human and animal health (McMulen et al., 1997; Walter et al., 2010; Agostinelli et al., 2012). The study of Fusarium diseases, including host disease resistance and the effect of exogenous agents (chemicals, biocontrol agents, etc.), requires robust and effective methods for the assessment and quantification of visual disease symptoms. Here we describe the methods commonly used for the assessment and quantification of the severity of Fusarium seedling blight and Fusarium head blight disease.