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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #323442
Title: Effect of soil biochar amendment on grain crop resistance to Fusarium mycotoxin contamination

Author
item Vaughan, Martha
item Vaughn, Steven
item Jackson, Mark
item McCormick, Susan
item Schisler, David

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/18/2015
Publication Date: 11/18/2015
Citation: Vaughan, M.M., Vaughn, S.F., Jackson, M.A., Mccormick, S.P., Schisler, D.A. 2015. Effect of soil biochar amendment on grain crop resistance to Fusarium mycotoxin contamination. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Mycotoxin contamination of food and feed is among the top food safety concerns. Fusarium spp. cause serious diseases in cereal crops reducing yield and contaminating grain with mycotoxins that can be deleterious to human and animal health. Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium verticillioides infect wheat and maize and contaminate grain with trichothecenes and fumonisins, respectively. Soil amendment with biochar can confer multiple benefits to plants including increased productivity and enhanced disease resistance. The objective of this study was to test whether biochar could enhance wheat and maize resistance to F. graminearum and F. verticillioides and reduce mycotoxin contamination. Since biochar has also been shown to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere, we further assessed the potential of biochar as a carrier system for the biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum which is known to be effective against several fungal soilborne plant pathogens. Results from greenhouse trials suggest that, depending on soil type, amendment with biochar can influence Fusarium disease development and mycotoxin accumulation.