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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159755
Title: FUSARIUM SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH TALL FESCUE SEED PRODUCTION IN OREGON

Author
item OCAMB, CYNTHIA - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item Alderman, Stephen

Submitted to: Plant Health Progress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2004
Publication Date: 3/19/2004
Citation: Ocamb, C.M., Alderman, S.C. 2004. Fusarium species associated with tall fescue seed production in oregon. Plant Health Progress. doi:10.1094/PHP-2004-0319-01-RS.

Interpretive Summary: Although Fusarium species are reported to cause a head blight of orchardgrass, the occurrence and impact of Fusarium species on production of tall fescue seed in Oregon, where much of the U.S. seed production occurs, is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence and infectivity of Fusarium species from tall fescue. Among 15 tall fescue fields, Fusarium species were found in 13 of the fields. Percentage seed infested with Fusarium ranged from 1 to 32%. Greenhouse studies confirmed that Fusarium species can cause significant reductions in tall fescue seed germination.

Technical Abstract: Seed samples from each of 15 seed lots from a 1997 harvest of tall fescue seed, representing 15 different tall fescue fields, were examined for Fusarium species. The percentage of seeds from which Fusarium species were recovered ranged from 0 to 32 %. Disinfesting seed with 3 % hydrogen peroxide reduced the percentage recovery of Fusarium from 0-32 % to 0-9 % of seeds examined. The level of Fusarium recovered was not correlated with seed lot germination. The predominant Fusarium species isolated from tall fescue seed included F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. pseudograminearum, and F. sambucinum. In a greenhouse study, F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, and F. pseudograminearum were each inoculated onto tall fescue panicles, and resulted in higher seedborne rates of each respective Fusarium sp. Seeds recovered from panicles treated with F. avenaceum or F. pseudograminearum had significantly lower rates of germination relative to panicles sprayed with water or a suspension of F. culmorum. Our work confirms that Fusarium pathogens of tall fescue flowers decrease seed germination, and our work expands the pathogen range to include F. avenaceum and F. pseudograminearum.