Fusarium Culmorum Research Articles (Page 1)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and strigolactones: modulating molecular defense mechanisms in wheat against Fusarium culmorum

Trichothecenes toxicity in humans and animals: Unraveling the mechanisms and harnessing phytochemicals for prevention.

Fusarium culmorum is considered one of the most dangerous phytopathogens of wheat, causing significant losses in yield and affecting human and animal health through mycotoxin production. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal efficacy against an F. culmorum isolate (FC) using two heavy metals (HMs), namely Copper Sulfate (CuSO4) and Zinc Chloride (ZnCl2), and two Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs), namely Choline Chloride: Ascorbic Acid (ChCl: AscA) and Choline Chloride: Acetic Acid (ChCl: AcA), using the microwell dilution method. The results showed that the two tested HMs exhibited an inhibitory effect on the FC isolate growth, with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 1 mg/ml for both. However, only CuSO4 achieved a fungicidal effect, with a Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of 2 mg/ml. In addition, DESs demonstrated high fungicidal activity, especially using ChCl: AcA, which displayed a MIC of 31.25 µl/ml. Wheat seed priming with ChCl: AcA improved wheat seedlings’ tolerance to the FC isolate without affecting seed germination. In addition, it revealed a protection effect of 26.84 and 30.26% for shoot and root length, respectively, and 34.97 and 27.83% for shoot and root fresh weight, respectively. These findings confirm the potential of these tested DES to be used in wheat seed treatment as an effective antifungal agent.

Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimise cultivation conditions showed that Trichoderma koningiopsis EPS biosynthesis depended on an alkaline pH (>9.0) and a high nitrogen concentration (≥20 g/L). This resulted in a yield increase of over 60% compared to the control conditions. Three wall polymer fractions were extracted from the obtained biomass: cold water soluble (WPSZ), hot water soluble (WPSC), and alkali soluble (WPSNaOH). These accounted for 13.3, 1.8, and 20.2% of the dry weight of the mycelium, respectively. Structural analyses revealed that the obtained EPS was mannan, with the WPS fractions consisting predominantly of (1→4)-Glc residues branching at the (1→3,6) and (1→4,6) positions. FT-IR and FT-Raman analyses revealed that α-bonds predominated in the WPSZ and WPSC fractions, whereas β-bonds predominated in the EPS and WPSNaOH fractions. This was confirmed by NMR analysis. The obtained polymer fractions (PS) exhibited antioxidant properties using the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP methods, as well as the ability to bind bisphenol A from an aqueous environment. The most significant property of PS polymers is their ability to reduce germination and inhibit mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic Fusarium culmorum strain. These polymers exhibit various bioactive properties and have potential applications in many areas of human life.

The phytochemical profile of Eucalyptus flower buds (FBs) is not well documented. In this study, we investigated the essential oils (EOs) present in the FBs of 11 Eucalyptus species cultivated in Tunisia. We focused on EO yield via hydrodistillation, chemical composition using GC-MS, and potential antifungal activity. EO yields ranged from 0.71% (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) to 5.3% (Eucalyptus oleosa) (median, 2.9%). Notably, the FBs contained approximately 2.7 times more terpenoids than the leaves. The numbers ranged from 27 (Eucalyptus gracilis) to 40 (E. oleosa). Eucalyptol, α-pinene, para-cymene, aromadendrene, and globulol were present in all species, and their relative abundances enable identification and classification, as confirmed by a principal component analysis (PCA) model. EO of Eucalyptus salubris is the most active against Fusarium oxysporum, whereas Eucalyptus sargentii and Eucalyptus torquata are the most active against Fusarium culmorum and Rhizoctonia solani. Overall, our results suggest that antifungal activity is species-specific and associated with EO composition.

Fusarium culmorum is the causal agent of root rot and crown rot in soft wheat. The aim of this study was to investigate the control mechanism of Talaromyces pinophilus HD25G2 as a biocontrol agent against F. culmorum. This involved the isolation and molecular identification of Fusarium and Talaromyces strains from soft wheat. The assay included the inhibition test of F. culmorum mycelial growth on potato dextrose agar and soft wheat media at two water activity values (0.98 and 0.95), its production of mycotoxins, and the fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes implicated in the antagonistic effect of T. pinophilus. The results showed that T. pinophilus and its extract free of cells reduced the growth of F. culmorum by over 55%. Interestingly, the T. pinophilus HD25G2 showed high chitinase, protease, and cellulose production on solid media. In addition, chitinolytic and proteolytic activities were estimated at the values of 1.72 ± 0.02UI and 0.49 ± 0.01UI, respectively. However, the mycotoxin evaluation assay revealed that F. culmorum HD15C10 produced zearalenone (ZEA) and the biocontrol agent enhanced its production, but the early inoculation of T. pinophilus, before F. culmorum growth onset, inhibited 100% its growth and, therefore, prevented the presence of ZEA. Hence, this strain can be proposed as a biocontrol agent against F. culmorum, and it can be further investigated for biocontrol of Fusarium root and crown rot in vivo.

Antifungal potential of endophytic bacteria from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) against Fusarium culmorum and Neoscytalidium dimidiatum under greenhouse conditions

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global food crop. The intensive crop farming, monoculture cultivation, and impact of climate change affect the susceptibility of wheat cultivars to biotic stresses, mainly caused by soil fungal pathogens, especially those belonging to the genus Fusarium. This situation threatens yield and grain quality through root and crown rot. While conventional chemical fungicides face resistance issues and environmental concerns, biological alternatives like seed priming with natural metabolites are gaining attention. Polyamines, including putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are attractive priming agents influencing plant development and abiotic stress responses. Spermine in particular shows potential for in vitro antifungal activity against Fusarium. Optimising spermine concentration for seed priming is crucial to maximising protection against Fusarium infection while ensuring robust plant growth. In this research, we explored the potential of the polyamine spermine as a seed treatment to enhance wheat resilience, aiming to identify a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides. Our findings revealed that a six-hour seed soak in spermine solutions ranging from 0.5 to 5 mM did not delay germination or seedling growth. In fact, the 5 mM concentration significantly stimulated root weight and length. In complementary in vitro assays, we evaluated the antifungal activity of spermine (0.5–5 mM) against three Fusarium species. The results demonstrated complete inhibition of Fusarium culmorum growth at 5 mM spermine. A less significant effect on Fusarium graminearum and little to no impact on Fusarium oxysporum were found. The performed analysis revealed that the spermine had a fungistatic effect against the pathogen, retarding the mycelium growth of F. culmorum inoculated on the seed surface. A pot experiment with Bulgarian soft wheat cv. Sadovo-1 was carried out to estimate the effect of seed priming with spermine against infection with isolates of pathogenic fungus F. culmorum on plant growth and disease severity. Our results demonstrated that spermine resulted in a reduced distribution of F. culmorum and improved plant performance, as evidenced by the higher fresh weight and height of plants pre-treated with spermine. This research describes the efficacy of spermine seed priming as a novel strategy for managing Fusarium root and crown rot in wheat.

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) causes significant yield and quality loss of wheat in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States. The green bridge, defined in the 1980s as a phytopathological phenomenon at a landscape level, refers to any living plant material that can act an intermediate host for pathogens and pests. Since its definition, the advent of herbicide-resistant wheat and increased in-crop grassy herbicide use merited investigation of the green bridge concept at a smaller scale: within field. This study examined downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.), the most prevalent grassy weed in dryland wheat production of the PNW, as a model system to study the role of grassy weeds in FCR occurrence and potential transmission. In crop year (CY) 2023 and 2024, B. tectorum samples were collected from three counties in northeast Oregon (Umatilla, Morrow, and Sherman), and qRT-PCR was used to quantify the DNA concentration of Fusarium culmorum and F. pseudograminearum. The results indicated the colonization of both FCR pathogen on living B. tectorum at all site-years. The DNA concentration of F. culmorum was higher in Sherman and Umatilla County compared to Morrow County in CY 2024 only while the DNA concentration of F. pseudograminearum was similar among the study sites in both CY. This preliminary study highlights B. tectorum as a host to FCR pathogens with potential transmission to wheat and provides foundation for further research to better FCR control through weed management and weigh disease risk potential when utilizing grassy herbicides.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major cereal crop globally, but its production is increasingly threatened by fungal pathogens, particularly Fusarium culmorum (Wm. G. Sm.) Sacc., which causes seedling blight and root rot, leading to yield losses and mycotoxin contamination. Conventional control strategies, such as crop rotation and the use of fungicides, are often inadequate and contribute to the development of resistance, particularly with the overuse of similar modes of action. This study investigated quaternary pyridinium salts—nicotinamide and isonicotinamide derivatives—as potential sustainable antifungal agents. In vivo tests involved treating sterilized wheat seeds grown in sterile sand that had been inoculated with F. culmorum, using compounds previously confirmed to be active in vitro. Disease index, shoot and root length, and fresh and dry biomass were measured. Among the tested compounds, nicotinamide derivatives (2) and (3) showed the lowest disease index (0.9) at a concentration of 10 µg/mL. Most compounds promoted plant and root growth. Isonicotinamide derivatives (6) and (7) at 100 µg/mL increased root dry weight, while compound (6) at 10 µg/mL resulted in the most significant increase in plant length. These findings highlight the dual antifungal and growth-promoting potential of certain eco-friendly derivatives for managing F. culmorum and supporting wheat seedling development.

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is the second most cultivated nut crop in Chile. Pathogens associated with fungal trunk diseases (FTD) pose a serious threat to this crop, because these fungi colonize the wood causing loss of productivity and eventually death of the plants (Martino et al., 2025). During Spring 2018 and 2020, FTD symptoms such as wood necrosis, vascular discoloration of branches, cankers, and wilted branches were detected in a survey conducted in 24 hazelnut orchards located between Maule and Araucanía regions, Chile (Moya-Elizondo et al., 2023). Wood pieces (3 mm x 5 mm) were removed from the edge of necrotic canker lesions, disinfected with 2% NaOCl, rinsed twice with sterile distilled water, and dried on sterile absorbent paper. Tissue pieces were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) supplemented with streptomycin sulphate (200 mg L⁻¹) and incubated at 25°C in darkness for five days. Different fungi were isolated from cankers, but based on morphological characteristics (pale pink or burgundy colonies), Fusarium spp. were identified in 5.2% of the samples (27/520). Each colony was hyphal-tip purified in a new PDA plate. Macroconidia developed on sporodochia after 30 days of incubation at 25°C on carnation leaf agar. Two morphologically different isolates were analyzed. Colonies of isolate F066 were cottony, dark pink and light pink on the edges when grown on PDA. Macroconidia were hyaline, falcate with rounded apical cells, slightly curved, with 3 to 6 septa (30 to 53 x 5.2 to 6.2 µm). Isolate F094 presented slightly cottony colonies, light pink, and dark pink with pale yellow hues in the central area with macroconidia of similar morphological shape but measuring 36 to 55 x 2.8 to 4.2 µm. In both isolates, chlamydospores and microconidia were absent. The ITS, RPB2, and TEF-1α genomic regions were amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4, 7cf/11ar, and EF1/EF2, respectively (Sandoval-Denis et al., 2018). The ITS (MT640271, PP928999), RPB2 (MT997139, PP934182), and TEF-1α (MT661593, PP934183) sequences were deposited in GenBank, showing 100% similarity with reference sequences of Fusarium culmorum (Wm.G.Sm.) Sacc. and Fusarium avenaceum (Corda) Sacc. for ITS: (MK729631, MT463390), RPB2 (GQ915490, MK185027), and TEF-1α (MN044434, KP400709), respectively. To fulfil Koch's postulates, pathogenicity was evaluated in 8-year-old hazelnut plants cv. Tonda di Giffoni in a commercial orchard. A hole of 6.5 mm in diameter was made in healthy branches using an electric drill and an actively growing mycelial disc (5 mm) was placed into five branches per isolate, ensuring contact of the mycelium with the wood. The wounds were sealed with plastic film to prevent contamination and desiccation. Additionally, PDA discs were inoculated as a control. After seven months, branches were cut longitudinally to verify wood necrosis. Inoculation with isolates F066 and F094 resulted in necrotic lesions ranging between 50-125 mm and 30-80 mm in length, respectively. No necrosis was observed with the control inoculations. Small wood pieces were cut from the advancing necrotic zone, disinfected, and placed on PDA plates and incubated at 25°C as described above. Hyphal tips were taken from mycelia grown from wood pieces and placed on PDA. F. culmorum and F. avenaceum isolates were observed in 100% of the inoculated branches, showing similar mycelial growth and microscopic fungal structures as those observed for the pathogens. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. culmorum and F. avenaceum affecting hazelnuts plants in Chile and worldwide. Fusarium lateritium had been previously reported in Italy, causing cankers and cambium death in hazelnut twigs (Belisario et al., 2005). The current study reveals a possible host jump and a presumed change in the disease dynamics of these phytopathogens, which primarily cause diseases in cereals (Karlsson et al., 2021).

Fusarium culmorum is a worldwide phytopathogenic fungus of small-grain cereals. Struggling strategies such as fungicide treatment and biocontrol agent usage are not long-term solutions due to the potential adverse effects on ecological environment and resistance development in fungal pathogens. In this study, potential suppressive effects of amino acid supplementation on F. culmorum were investigated. Potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium amended with 1 mg mL-1 and 2 mg mL-1 concentrations of L-arginine and L-methionine were used as experimental sets. PDA with no supplement and PDA amended with nicotinamide of 1 mg mL-1 and 2 mg mL-1 concentrations were used as negative and positive control sets, respectively. While L-arginine treatment led to significant increase in linear growth rate (LGR) with p<0.01, L-methionine decreased LGR values (p<0.001). Coupled Restriction Enzyme Digestion-Random Amplification (CRED-RA) essays yielded very similar alterations in terms of genomic template stability within the experiment groups of L-arginine and L-methionine treated sets. UPGMA-dendrogram (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) revealed co-clustering of L-methionine and nicotinamide treated sets. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) analysis showed that there was Type-II and Type-III methylation present in 2 mg mL-1 L-methionine treated sets. Gene expression analysis showed that L-methionine and L-arginine treatment led to contrast alteration in expressions of tri6 and FcStuA genes with significant differences (p<0.05-p<0.0001). Our results showed that L-methionine treatment could suppress potential aggressiveness of F. culmorum at phenotypic, epigenetics, and transcriptional levels

A series of novel hybrid uracil derivatives incorporating the natural alkaloids caffeine or gramine, linked via 1,2,3-triazole ring, were synthetized using click chemistry. The structures of the obtained compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic methods, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and mass spectrometry. The biological activity of hybrids was evaluated in vitro, including assessments of hemolytic activity, antioxidant potential, antifungal efficacy, and antibacterial activity. Additionally, molecular docking studies were conducted in silico for the most active antioxidant candidate. The results revealed that the hemocompatibility of the derivatives was structure-dependent. While caffeine-containing hybrids exhibited moderate-to-low cytoprotective activity under oxidative stress conditions, those incorporating gramine showed significantly higher potency. A plausible molecular mechanism underlying their cytoprotective activity is proposed. Several compounds also inhibited the growth of the plant pathogens Fusarium culmorum and Botrytis cinerea. The promising antioxidant and antifungal properties of selected uracil-alkaloid hybrids highlight their potential as multifunctional bioactive compounds for managing oxidative stress and controlling plant pathogens. Furthermore, the finding demonstrates the effectiveness of click chemistry as a versatile tool for the synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds.

In this study, endophytic bacteria were isolated from roots and crowns of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), olive (Olea europaea L.), and loquat (Eriobotrya japonica L.) plant samples. The morphological and physiological properties of nine isolated endophytic bacteria were determined. All isolates were identified as Gram-positive, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive. Amylase, cellulase, and carbohydrate tests gave positive results. Antagonistic activities of the isolates against fungal pathogens varied between 85.7% and 52.9% against Fusarium culmorum and between 86.0% and 65.1% against Neoscytalidium dimidiatum. BMBA2 isolate gave the best results both in Petri dish antagonistic activity and in wheat seed germination in terms of root length and coleoptile length. BMBA2 isolates gave the best results with a coleoptile length of 7.58 cm and root length of 8.33 cm. In wheat seeds treated with F. culmorum and bacteria, the BMBA2 isolate gave the best result with a coleoptile length of 6.98 and a root length of 7.30 cm. For the identification of bacteria, in vitro BiBA1 and ND3BA were determined as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum; BiBA2 and YDBA as Bacillus subtilis; NDBA, ND2BA, BMBA1, BMBA2, and BMBA3 as Bacillus mojavensis. Since this is the first study to use endophytic Bacillus mojavensis as a biological agent against F. culmorum and N. dimidiatum pathogens, the results obtained from this study are thought to be important and promising in terms of application.

Objective: Pollen is a natural bee product known for its rich bioactive content and positive effects on health. Although previous research has highlighted the antibacterial and antifungal properties of bee pollen, there is still a lack of comprehensive studies investigating its inhibitory effects on fungi, particularly molds. Our research seeks to contribute to filling this gap by assessing the antifungal potential of bee pollen against selected fungal species. Materials and methods: In this study, the antifungal properties of bee pollen obtained by combining two multifloral samples from the Bursa region were evaluated. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the bee pollen at varying concentrations (1%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%) were tested for their inhibitory effects against Alternaria alternata, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium culmorum, and Aspergillus flavus. Results and conclusion: Both pollen extracts exhibited dose-dependent antifungal activity against all tested fungal strains, with the methanol/water extract demonstrating significantly greater efficacy than the ethanol/water extract. The highest antifungal activity among all tested fungi was consistently observed at the 10% extract concentration. Among the tested strains, F. culmorum demonstrated the highest sensitivity, with a 7.5% concentration effectively inhibiting its growth. Given the promising antifungal potential, further investigation is needed to identify the primary bioactive compounds and elucidate their mechanisms of action.

Understanding the structure and dynamics of fungi inhabiting the rhizosphere is paramount for advancing sustainable agriculture and preserving ecosystem health. Rhizospheric fungi possess considerable potential to enhance crop yield, diminish dependence on chemical inputs, and promote ecologically sound agricultural methodologies over an extended period. A study was conducted to isolate and delineate rhizospheric soil fungi associated with Lagenaria siceraria Standl. Through a comprehensive analysis of morphological, cultural, and microscopic attributes, a total of twenty distinct species of soil fungi were successfully isolated and identified from the rhizosphere of L. siceraria.These fungi were Acremonium falciforme (Carrioon) W. Gams; Alternaria alternata Fr., Keissier; Aspergillus clavatus Desmazieres; A flavus Link; A. fumigatus Fresenius; A. nidulans (Eidam) G. Winter; A. niger Tieghem; A. oryzae (Ahlburg) Cohn; A. terreus Thom; Curvularia brachyspora Boedijn; Fusarium culmorum (Wm.G. Sm.) Sacc.; F. oxysporum Schlecht., Emend, Synder & Hansen; F. solani (Mart.) Sacc.; Verticillium nigrescens Pethybr.; Mucor mucedo Linnaeus; Paecilomyces variotii Bainer; Penicillium oxalicum Currie and Thom; P. solitum Westling; Talaromyces purpureogenus (Stoll) Samson and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai. This study will be instrumental in the precise identification of soil fungi intricately associated with various crop plants and some fungal species can be harnessed through in vivo methodologies to safeguard and enhance the sustainable cultivation of Lagenaria siceraria. Furthermore, certain strains exhibit antimicrobial properties, particularly in combating pathogenic fungal organisms.. KEYWORDS :Lagenaria siceraria, rhizospheric fungi

Urbanization has been suspected to increase the allergic rate of people, and its impact on airborne fungi and potential allergens has drawn attention. In this study, aerosol samples were collected concurrently at proximate urban and rural sites of Shanghai during the four seasons to analyze the changes in abundance and community composition of airborne fungi. In summer, there were significantly higher concentrations of fungi in the urban atmosphere compared to at the rural site. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the top two fungal phyla, and Cladosporium was the most abundant genus year round. Alternaria was the second highest genus in spring and winter (only the rural site), whereas Nigrospora ranked second during summer and autumn due to it largely being sourced from marine organisms and predominantly marine-influenced air masses in these seasons. Airborne fungal richness was relatively higher at the rural site than in urban during winter. Allergenic fungal species were found to be more abundant in winter than in other seasons; particularly, the relative abundance of Cladosporium sp. was significantly higher (p < 0.001), and Fusarium culmorum and Cladosporium herbarum also increased more in urban than in rural areas, which may be one of the key factors contributing to the rising allergic rate in the urban population.

Abstract Thirty‐seven turfgrass samples expressing dollar spot symptoms were collected in summer 2020 on golf courses in Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, and Spain. The fungi were isolated at Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) Turfgrass Laboratory (Norway) and sent for molecular identification using sequencing of regions of ITS (internal transcribed regions of the ribosomal DNA) and calmodulin. Clarireedia homoeocarpa was identified in four turfgrass samples and Clarireedia jacksonii was identified in 11 turfgrass samples. From seven turfgrass samples, the isolated fungi were not Clarireedia spp., but Waitea circinata, Fusarium culmorum, and Fusarium oxysporum. This suggests dollar spot is not always accurately identified from foliar symptoms in the field.

Phlorotannins are polyphenolic compounds made of phloroglucinol units mainly found in brown algae, exhibiting diverse structural features and bioactive properties. Notably, dimeric phlorotannins, i.e., fucols and phloroethols, share the biphenyl and diphenyl ether motifs characteristic of several antimicrobial phytoalexins, typically produced by plants under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Considering the difficult supply from their biological matrices, natural difucol, hexaacetyl-difucol, and diphloroethol have been synthesized; moreover, a small collection of analogues has been prepared by versatile synthetic approaches consisting in a partial or complete methylation (or acetylation) of the monomers. Finally, oxidative dimerization or Ullmann condensation provided the desired compounds. The resulting derivatives have been evaluated as inhibitors of mycelium growth, spore germination, and appressorium formation of Pyricularia oryzae (PO-2107 Qol-resistant strain and PO-A252 Qol-sensitive strain), Botrytis cinerea (BC-2A10), and Fusarium culmorum (FC-UK). None of the biphenyl derivatives significantly affected the tested fungal strains; however, polymethylated diphenyl ethers 10, 11, and 14 at 500 μM concentration showed inhibition of mycelium growth between 20 and 45% against all the tested strains, highlighting that the methylation pattern, as well as the connection between the two aromatic rings, could have a role in the interaction with the biological target. Antibacterial assays against one Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica Enteritidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) showed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) equal or higher than 128 μg/mL for all the tested compounds.

Abstract For ecological reasons, effective alternatives should be found to control plant diseases on crops. UV-C is a highly energetic radiation with a disinfecting effect on different microorganisms. This study investigated the effect of UV-C treatment on the vegetative and reproductive growth of Fusarium culmorum , Alternaria spp., Botrytis cinerea , Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and the biocontrol agent Trichoderma asperellum. All fungal species were grown on agar plates and treated with different UV-C doses (0.015–1.57 kJ/m2). Mycelium diameter, spore production, and germination of these spores were analyzed. In a second experiment, a spore suspension was treated with different UV-C doses (0.015–1.57 kJ/m2), and germinated spores were counted 1, 2, and 3 days after UV-C treatment. The results indicate that mycelium growth was slightly reduced. However, the mycelium began to recover after the first day. Furthermore, no complete cessation of mycelium growth could be detected. Increasing UV-C doses resulted in reduced spore germination. On the first day after UV-C treatment, spores treated with the highest dose of 1.57 kJ/m2 did not germinate. However, germination increased as the time between treatment and measurement increased. The treated fungal species reacted differently to UV-C treatment. F. culmorum reacted most sensitively to mycelium treatment. T. asperellum had the highest level of sensitivity to the spore treatment, followed by F. culmorum, Alternaria spp., and B. cinerea. The developmental stage of the fungus is crucial for the success of the UV-C treatment and should be taken into account when using this plant protection technology.