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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Cereal Disease Lab » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414452
Research Project: Plant-Fungal Interactions and Host Resistance in Fusarium Head Blight of Barley and Wheat

Location: Cereal Disease Lab

Title: Synergism between pathogens in the 2022 Fusarium head blight outbreak in Ethiopia under investigation

Author
item DEGENRING, LIZA - University Of Minnesota
item GEMECHU, ASHENAFI - Ethiopian Institute Of Agricultural Research
item Drott, Milton

Submitted to: U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative Scab News
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2024
Publication Date: 5/15/2024
Citation: Degenring, L., Gemechu, A., Drott, M.T. 2024. Synergism between pathogens in the 2022 Fusarium head blight outbreak in Ethiopia under investigation. U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative Scab News. 24(2):1-10.

Interpretive Summary: Ethiopia has been pushing for independence in wheat production. However,in 2022 this effort was confronted by an outbreak of Fusarium Head Blight, a devestating disease of wheat and other cereal grains.We have been processing fungal isolates and wheat samples from the outbreak to better understand the outbreak and the associated threat to human health and food safety.We have found that several different toxin-producing species are present in the outbreak and that the disease is associated with toxin-contamination of grains that is sometimes far above the recommended limits for human or even animal consumption.We have also identified several pathogens to the species level,including at least one that was not previously reported in Ethiopia.Genome

Technical Abstract: Ethiopia has been pushing for independence in wheat production. However, in 2022 this effort was confronted by an outbreak of Fusarium Head Blight, a devestating disease of wheat and other cereal grains. We have been processing fungal isolates and wheat samples from the outbreak to better understand the outbreak and the associated threat to human health and food safety.We have found that several different toxin-producing species are present in the outbreak and that the disease is associated with toxin-contamination of grains that is sometimes far above the recommended limits for human or even animal consumption.We have also identified several pathogens to the species level,including at least one that was not previously reported in Ethiopia.Genome