Epidemiology of ear blight and biology of toxigenic Fusarium species and related pathogenic fungi in cereal crops

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This project is studying comparative epidemiology of two mycotoxin-producing Fusarium species (Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum) that attack cereals, causing head blight, leading to contamination of grain with harmful mycotoxins. Furthermore it is investigating the significance of the two mycotoxin chemotypes (nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON)) in cereal disease. The project has three broad objectives: 1) To determine the timing and conditions necessary for dispersal of inoculum to initiate head blight. 2) To determine the significance of inoculum and infection consisting of mixed species and strains on ear blight and mycotoxins and interactions with host crops. 3) To develop a risk model for decision support system that can be used to prevent or limit mycotoxin development in crops. Objective 1 will be achieved using a series of field experiments in which the two species are introduced into plots and monitored by conventional and molecular diagnostic assessment in subsequent seasons. Information from crop monitoring, in the associated projects based at the Central Science Laboratory and Harper Adams University College, will provide essential background and substantiate the experimental findings. For objective 2, chemotype-based selective advantage among isolates of each species, between isolates of the two species and between these two species and competing non-toxin producing species (Microdochium nivale and Microdochium majus) is being studied using species and chemotype-specific quantitative molecular diagnostics. Data from these studies is being used to develop a risk model for disease in crops and subsequent mycotoxin accumulation in grain.

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