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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #111398
Title: GREENHOUSE AND FIELD TESTING OF ANTAGONISTS OF FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT ON DURUM WHEAT

Author
item Schisler, David
item KHAN, NASEEM - OHIO STATE UNIV
item BOEHM, MICHAEL - OHIO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/16/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Gibberella zeae, the primary causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), incited losses of over 2.6 billion dollars in the United States in the last 10 years. In durum wheat, the pathogen-produced toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is retained in semolina at ~50%, and G. zeae has a strong adverse effect on pasta color. In the present study, microbial strains that reduced FHB severity on hard red spring and soft red winter wheats were produced in liquid culture and assayed on durum wheat in the greenhouse and field. In greenhouse tests, four of four antagonists reduced FHB severity on cultivar "Renville," and three of the four reduced incidence. Bacillus strain AS 43.3 decreased FHB severity by >90% and incidence by >75%. Three of four antagonists reduced FHB severity on cultivar "Ben," and two of the four reduced incidence. Bacillus strain AS 43.3 and Cryptococcus isolate OH 182.9 reduced FHB severity on cultivar "Renville" in a 1999 field test in Peoria, despite unfavorable weather conditions. Field data from the 2000 growing season should clarify the commercial potential of these strains for use on durum wheats.