infectious disease of the ear, causing significant crop losses, making grain unsuitable for use for food and feed purposes

Specialists from the Crop Science division of Bayer, together with the laboratory of mycology and phytopathology of the All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Protection, have prepared unique information about a dangerous disease - fusarium head blight; its biology; symptoms; factors that increase the risk of its occurrence; diagnostic methods, as well as control measures that allow obtaining high yields of high-quality grain

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Fusarium is a dangerous and very common disease of plants at any age, caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium

The pathogen, at various periods of plant development, can infect roots, leaves and ears.

Some types of fungi form mycotoxins (from the Greek mukos - mushroom + toxikos - poison) - molecules associated with the secondary metabolism of fungi, which exhibit toxic properties and make it unsuitable for use for food and feed purposes.

Toxins cannot be detected without special equipment, and they can be found not only in grain, but also in its processed products - flour and bread.

Symptoms

Infection of plants with fusarium leads to both a decrease in yield and a catastrophic deterioration in its quality.

Symptoms of fusarium head blight:

1. pink-orange coating of mycelium and sporulation of the fungus on the glumes of the ear;
2. pale pink sporulation of the fungus on the glumes;
3. eye spot on glumes;

With mild damage, the mycelium is located in the grain shells, while visually the grain is practically no different from healthy ones. But with more pronounced damage, the pathogen penetrates deeper, reaching the aleurone layer and the grain germ. Diseased grains are usually lightweight. Their surface is deformed (“wrinkled”), with a depressed deep groove and pointed barrels, and may have a pinkish tint.

Symptoms of grain fusarium:

• The affected grains are puny, wrinkled with a depressed deep groove and pointed barrels;
• The surface of the grain is discolored or pinkish, without shine;
• The endosperm is loose and crumbly; low glassiness of the grain or its complete loss;
• In the groove and especially in the embryonic part of the grain there is a cobweb-like coating of fungal mycelium, white or pink, and accumulations of conidia, in the form of pads;
• The grain germ is nonviable, dark in color on the cut.

However, apparently healthy grain can also be affected by fungi and contain mycotoxins!
This disease can cause damage to a batch of healthy and apparently healthy seeds. The presence of a milligram of mycotoxins in a kilogram of grain destroys all its beneficial properties.

Causes

Infection of leaves and ears with fusarium occurs by ascospores formed in fruiting bodies on post-harvest residues, or by conidia that appear on stubble residues or on the lower infected leaves. Infection of the ear mainly occurs during wheat flowering in conditions of sufficient humidity and at temperatures above +20°C. This subsequently leads to infection of developing grains.

The primary lesion occurs on the lower tiers of dead leaves. However, in most cases, no specific symptoms are noticeable. The resulting spores are spread by splashing rain.

The main period of infection is the flowering time of cereals. In this case, the anthers apparently serve as the entrance gate to each individual flower. Nutrient-rich pollen promotes the germination of fungal spores. Any weakening of the plant contributes to the defeat of the ears by fusarium.

Microscopic development

1. Conidia develop on the surface of the plant

2. Form mycelium

3. Penetrate the plant

4. Develop in tissues

5. After the incubation period, new conidia are formed

Factors influencing Fusarium infection

Plants of cereal crops are susceptible to fusarium in the flowering phase at high humidity and temperatures of about +20-25°C (especially F. graminearum). But for species such as Fusarium sporotrichioide and F. poae, increased humidity and air temperature are not mandatory conditions for infection. Weather conditions are an important, but far from the only factor influencing the development of the disease.

Tillage

• Tillage methods have a great influence on the development of fusarium.
• The presence of fungal-infected plant residues on the surface or in the surface layers of the soil after minimal tillage greatly increases the likelihood of infection of growing plants.
• This means you can reduce the risk of infection by plowing plant debris into the soil, where it decomposes more quickly.

3000 2000 1000 0

Crop rotations

• The rotation of crops in a crop rotation has a particular impact on the potential development of infection.
• Saturation of crop rotation with grain crops promotes the accumulation of inoculum.
• Low-field crop rotation, especially including corn, increases the risk of plants being damaged by Fusarium.
• Beetroot is also an unfavorable predecessor.

1500 1000 500 0 DON content, µg/kg

Variety resistance

• Cultivation of resistant varieties has a greater impact on reducing disease incidence and improving grain quality.
• Most cultivated varieties of grain crops are susceptible to fusarium.
• Bread wheat varieties vary in level of susceptibility from relatively resistant to highly susceptible.
• Durum wheat and oats are highly susceptible to fusarium grain blight.

These data are taken from studies on the level of deoxynivalenol DON, a minotoxin secreted by fungi of the genus Fusarium. France 2000 - 2001, number of fields 663 pcs.

Find out in 30 seconds how the Fusarium pathogen develops

The gene modified with green fluorescent protein makes it possible to monitor the development of the fungus Fusarium graminearum in the ear.

Under favorable conditions, fusarium completely infects the ear in 5-6 days!

Consequences

Mycotoxins (from the Greek mukos - mushroom + toxikos - poison) are specific toxic substances produced by fungi. Poisonous macromycetes, such as toadstool and red fly agaric, are well-known “poisoning villains”. But their microscopic relatives (micromycetes) are no less poisonous and even more dangerous. After all, their toxins cannot be detected without special equipment, and they can be found not only in grain, but also in its processed products - flour and bread.

What are mycotoxins?

• Mycotoxins are molecules associated with the secondary metabolism of fungi that exhibit toxic properties to humans and animals.
• All major fungal species that cause Fusarium blight can produce mycotoxins.
• Mycotoxins produced by various types of fungi. Fusarium have various toxicological properties.
• Mycotoxins have different effects on different species, such as pigs, poultry, humans, etc.
• The most common mycotoxins in cereals are deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin

Toxic effects

Trichothecenes

type A(T-2, HT-2, DAS)

F.sporotrichioides F.langsethiae

• The most toxic metabolites.
• Responsible for nutritional toxic aleukia (ATA)
• Causes epidermal necrosis and ulcerative stomatitis, serious gastrointestinal disorders that can lead to death

type B(DON, NIV)

F.graminearum F.poae F.culmorum F.cerealis

• Acute toxicity characterized by vomiting (more sensitive in pigs), food refusal, weight loss, diarrhea, tissue necrosis
• No indication of carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic effects

Zearalenone

F.graminearum F.culmorum

• Reduce animal productivity
• Estrogenic effects causing infertility, miscarriage (pigs are especially sensitive)
• Possible effect on cervical cancer in women

Fumonisins

F.verticillioides F.proliferatum

• Equine leukoencephalomalacia (a disease of horses), characterized by neurotoxic effects, pulmonary and cerebral edema, and liver damage
• Possible link to esophageal cancer in humans

Moniliformin

F.tricinctum F.avenaceum

• Changes in cardiac muscle tissue
• Intestinal bleeding (limited studies)

Distribution of deoxynivaleonol in fusarium wheat milling products

It has been proven that in bread made from fusarium grain the content of mycotoxins does not decrease, and sometimes even increases, especially when producing yeast dough and bread!

Fusarium
threat to people!

Effect of mycotoxins on animals

Wheat represents 50% of pig growth feed. If mycotoxins are present, feed consumption by pigs is significantly reduced. Serious symptoms include refusal to eat, weight loss and vomiting. Moreover, reproductive function may be affected

Impact of fusariotoxins contained in feed on the health of animals and poultry

• Refusal to feed
• Decrease in productivity
• Immunosuppression
• Ulcerative stomatitis
• Epidermal necrosis
• Damage to internal organs (liver, kidneys, reproductive system organs, etc.)

LD50 indicator for mycotoxins entering through the gastrointestinal tract

LD50- the average dose of a substance that causes the death of half the members of the test group. ZhM- live weight
Relative toxicity- the degree of toxicity of a substance in comparison with another substance (in this case, in comparison with T-2 toxin). more toxic substance< 1,0 < менее токсичное вещество

The ability of fungi of the genus Fusarium to cause typical symptoms and produce species-specific mycotoxin

T-2 and HT-2 toxins are among the most dangerous mycotoxins produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium. At the same time, their producers - F. langsethiae and F. sporotrichioides - can develop on the ear without visible signs.

T-2 toxins
hidden threat

Occurrence of species of the genus Fusarium in grain samples from various regions of Russia

Infection of winter wheat grain with fungi of the genus Fusarium depending on its predecessors

The least favorable predecessor in terms of the subsequent risk of developing fusarium is corn. The presence of such a precursor makes it necessary to develop a strategy for protecting winter wheat from fusarium head blight.

HOW TO DETERMINE FUSARIOSIS?

1. Visual assessment

In areas where the species F.graminearum, F.culmorum, and F.avenaceum are distributed, visible symptoms of fusarium blight on ears can be detected in the field. Infection with fusarium does not always manifest itself visually, but this disease can cause the “disqualification” of a batch of full-bodied and apparently healthy seeds. The presence of literally a milligram of mycotoxins in a kilogram of grain - and that’s it! At best, such grain will be used as fodder. Neither protein content, nor IDC indicators, nor nature matter if the grain contains a microscopic amount of a deadly poison of fungal origin.

• Fast and inexpensive way

The chain reaction is a process that occurs in three stages (denaturation, annealing and expansion), repeated in several cycles.
At each stage of the process, the number of copies doubles from two to four, then to eight, and so on. After 20 cycles there are approximately 1 million copies, that is, enough material to determine the desired DNA using the traditional method. Advantages:
• PCR is a relatively fast and reliable method for identifying fungi.
• Allows you to detect the presence of a certain type or several types of fungi in plant tissue. Detection of the number of fungi is possible using quantitative PCR (real-time PCR).
• The amount of fungal DNA detected is related to the presence of the mycotoxins they produce.
Flaws:



4. Planar waveguide technology

A reliable and fast method that uses innovative planar waveguide technology to detect four to five toxins in one measurement.

Advantages:
• Simultaneous determination of several mycotoxins.
• Ease of sample preparation
• Quick result (25 min)
• No special laboratory training required
Flaws:
• Need for specialized equipment



How to fight fusarium?

For more than 20 years, Bayer has worked on the problem of fusarium blight, a worldwide disease that affects a variety of grain crops.

Intensive research work has led to a better understanding of disease aspects and the development of optimal solutions to suppress pathogenic fungi and reduce their negative impact on product quality.

Application of fungicides

Treating crops with a fungicide during flowering is an important method of combating fusarium.

Azoles have fungistatic effect. They suppress the synthesis of ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane at the level of formation of dimethylergostatrienol from lanosterol by inhibiting the cytochrome P450-dependent reaction of C14-a-dimethylation

Azoles are the best weapon! against fusarium

The Crop Science division of Bayer has developed a new active ingredient - prothioconazole, which provides a high level of ear protection against fusarium and, as a result, leads to the most effective reduction of the level of mycotoxins in grain.

According to independent assessment(information from the website www.eurowheat.org) combination of various active ingredients in the fight against fusarium head blight in European countries tebuconazole with prothioconazole has maximum effectiveness against fusarium head blight!

Both active substances belong to the group of triazoles and inhibit the biosynthesis of sterols, disrupting the integrity of the cell walls of pathogens.

Fungal infections are the most common cause of tomato death and crop loss. One of the most common of these diseases is fusarium wilt. Read about its signs, causes and methods of treatment in the material below.

Symptoms of fusarium wilt of tomatoes

The insidiousness of fusarium is that it is often confused with other diseases, lack of mineral nutrition or physiological wilting of tomatoes. Inadequate treatment due to confusion leads to deterioration of the plants and loss of time. Therefore, it is extremely important to know the characteristic signs of fusarium:

• It develops only on plants that have entered fruiting. If the tomatoes are still young and do not form ovaries, then the wilting is caused by other reasons.
• Develops from bottom to top. The very first symptoms are found on the old lower leaves - they lose turgor, turn yellow and fall off, after which the disease spreads to the next tier.
• One-sided lesion may be observed. For example, leaves and side shoots on only one side of the plant may wilt and turn yellow, or symptoms may affect only the right or left side of the leaf.
• Drooping of the tops is observed. The shoots look slightly wilted, but not yellowed, as if the plants lack moisture.
• Damage to the conduction system is observed. If you cut off a wilted leaf or side shoot, a reddish-brown altered tissue will be noticeable at the point of separation from the stem.

Causes and conditions for the development of fusarium

The cause of tomato fusarium is infection by fungi of the genus Fusarium. Their mycelium grows into plant vessels and clogs them. As a result of the vital activity of the fungus, toxic substances gradually accumulate in tomato tissues, which cause irreversible metabolic disorders and dehydration.

Fusarium infection can occur in several ways. This is often facilitated by the erroneous actions of the vegetable grower himself:

• No pre-sowing treatment of seeds or purchased seedlings.

Fusarium pathogens can survive on seeds and in seedling substrates. Disinfection of seeds before sowing should be a mandatory step. If seedlings are purchased externally, their roots, together with a ball of earth, must be kept in a disinfectant solution and only then planted in a garden bed or greenhouse.

• Rough tillage or plowing with a dirty tool.

Weeding, careless loosening and other manipulations can damage the roots, and through wounds the pathogen easily penetrates the plant tissue. Its introduction to the site often occurs through a dirty tool when planting tomatoes.

• Poor preparation of compost or organic mulch.

Fusarium remains viable for a long time on plant debris. If infested organic material is placed in compost or mulch mixture, the fungus will quickly infect vegetating tomatoes.

Excessive nitrogen nutrition of tomatoes, as well as the accumulation of phosphorus in the soil, contributes to the intensification of the disease.

Treatment of tomato fusarium with fungicides

If obvious signs of fusarium are observed on plants, it means that the fungus has already penetrated deeply into the conducting system and it is extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get rid of it. It is better to dig up and burn a diseased plant, and disinfect the soil underneath it or completely replace it.

To save rare tomato varieties, you can try to use agrochemicals. In this case, only strong systemic fungicides that penetrate deep into all organs and tissues of the plant can help:

Contact-acting preparations (for example, Bordeaux mixture, HOM or Abiga-Pik) are powerless against fusarium. Their solutions do not penetrate deep into tissues, remain on the surface and are not able to reach and destroy the fungus.

Tip #1. To water tomatoes with fusarium blight, you can use solutions based on prochloraz, recommended for treating fields with grains. Practice shows that watering tomatoes, for example, with Sportak, Bumper Super or Tertsia, gives a good protective effect.

🎥 Video advice from A.V. Rychkova “An effective and simple way to combat Fusarium wilt on cabbage and tomatoes.”

About an effective method for treating plants with fusarium blight from A.V. Rychkov, an experienced gardener.

Traditional methods of treating fusarium wilt

Some summer residents who do not accept the use of pesticides on their land try to get rid of fusarium using folk methods. On the Internet it is recommended to use infusions of mullein or wood ash to treat this disease.

Biological products to combat tomato fusarium

Adherents of organic farming who do not want to involve agrochemicals can be advised to fight fusarium with biological methods. Research on methods for protecting tomatoes from this infection proves the high effectiveness of biological Fusarium antagonists, such as inin vitro andinvivo.

Testing the antagonistic activity of various microorganisms against Fusarium showed that the fungi Trihoderma lignorum and the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens perform best. The following drugs have been created on their basis:

Biological measures to combat fusarium include stimulating the immunity of tomatoes. A good strengthening effect is provided by the drug “Immunocytophyte” in tablets. You can spray tomatoes with it three times a season - in the budding phase, flowering of the first and third bunch. To prepare the solution, 1 tablet is dissolved in a tablespoon of water and the volume is adjusted to 1.5 liters.

Fusarium in the greenhouse: control plan

Long-term operation of a greenhouse leads to the accumulation of pathogens in the soil. If there are fungi of the Furasium genus in the soil, it is very difficult to get rid of them, and the tomatoes will be affected by Fusarium from year to year.

If this disease is detected in a greenhouse, the following series of measures must be taken:

Tip #2. To ensure that the greenhouse is protected from fusarium blight, it is better to grow tomato seedlings yourself, on a sterile substrate, after pre-sowing disinfection of the seeds.

Tomato varieties resistant to fusarium

A radical solution to the problem of the incidence of fusarium is the planting of tomato varieties resistant to its pathogen. These include, for example:

• “Charisma F1” is a mid-season determinate hybrid for growing in greenhouses;
• “Vologda F1” is a mid-season indeterminate hybrid for growing in greenhouses;
• “Alaska” is an early-ripening determinate variety for growing in open ground and greenhouses;
• "Belfast F1" is an early large-fruited indeterminate hybrid for growing in greenhouses.
• “Sanka” is an ultra-early ripening determinate variety for open ground and greenhouses with exceptional resistance to fusarium.

Prevention of fusarium wilt of tomatoes

To protect tomatoes from damage by fusarium, you need to follow a number of simple preventive rules:

• disinfect seeds before sowing;
• grow seedlings yourself or disinfect purchased ones before planting;
• follow the recommended planting scheme, avoid thickening the bushes;
• observe temperature and humidity conditions when growing tomatoes;
• carry out all work with clean tools;
• follow the rules for preparing compost and use infection-free mulch;
• use immunostimulants and biological products to protect against infections;
• follow the feeding rules and avoid nitrogen overfeeding;
• plant fusarium-resistant varieties and hybrids.

If tomatoes are grown in open ground, after each rain they need to be treated with biological products, since rainy weather is one of the conditions for the activation of fusarium.

Current questions about fusarium blight on tomatoes

Question No. 1. Will marigolds planted next to tomatoes protect against fusarium?

The root secretions from marigolds will protect the roots of tomatoes. However, the pathogen penetrates into tissues not only through damage to the roots, so planting marigolds does not guarantee complete protection.

Question No. 2. How to disinfect instruments so as not to transfer fusarium?

Knives, scissors and other small tools can be wiped with alcohol. Shovels, hoes, and flat cutters are usually sufficient to wash and scald with boiling water. You can also use a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

Question No. 3. Can other plants suffer from fusarium?

They can. Fungi of the Fusarium genus infect cereals, all types of nightshades, pumpkins, including cucumbers, cabbages, and onions. Fusarium also affects ornamental plants - asters, clematis, gladioli, daffodils and many others.

Question No. 4. Is Fusarium dangerous for humans?

Unfortunately yes. These fungi cause the accumulation of a toxic substance, vomitoxin, in plant tissues. If it enters the human body, it causes severe poisoning.

Fusarium is a common and dangerous fungal disease of indoor, garden, and garden crops. The causative agents of the disease - fungi of the genus Fusarium - infect plants at any stage of development.

The infection penetrates through the soil and damaged parts: wounds, cuts. Toxins released by fungi spread throughout plant tissues and clog blood vessels. There is a gradual defeat of all parts, starting from the roots. With high humidity, the diseased plant becomes covered with a white, gray or pink coating.

Causes

The source of infection can be seeds, seedlings, plant debris, compost from diseased plants. The danger of the disease lies in the resistance of the fungi to unfavorable conditions. The spores do not die in winter, are well dispersed by the wind and can cover large areas in a short time.

On young plants, the signs of the disease are less pronounced, only growth retardation is noticeable. On crops at the stage of late development, fusarium develops quickly and destroys them in a short time.

This is facilitated by:

• sudden changes in temperature and humidity of air and soil;
• thickened plantings;
• heavy and acidic soil and, as a result, stagnation of moisture and lack of air;
• imbalance in nutrition - insufficient or excessive application of fertilizers (especially nitrogen and chlorine);
• lack of moisture or excessive watering;
• hot and humid weather for long periods of time.

Fusarium of various plants

Ogurtsov

Fusarium manifests itself in the phase of appearance of ovaries and fruits, both in open ground and in greenhouses. The leaves, starting from the tops, turn yellow and the vines dry out. The stems below, near the root collar, turn brown, crack and begin to rot. In damp weather they become covered with mushroom mycelium. You will learn about other cucumber diseases.

Tomatov

Fungi penetrate plants from the soil through lateral roots and spread through vessels from bottom to top to all parts of the tomato: stems, leaves, fruits, seeds. The incubation period lasts from a week to a month.

The disease develops during fruiting. The upper leaves wither, curl, and the petioles become bent. It seems that the bush has wilted due to lack of moisture. Then the leaves turn pale or yellow.

These signs may not appear on the entire plant, but only on the right or left side. Inside, on a cut of a shoot or leaf, red-brown altered tissues are visible.

Potatoes

Most often, infection occurs during flowering. The tops of the bushes become lighter, the leaves at the edges turn red and wither over time.

The stems near the ground turn brown, and in wet weather they become covered with bloom and rot. Sick bushes dry out within a few days.

Luke

Fusarium disease in onions appears during growth: the feathers turn yellow, become lethargic and die, and the roots rot.

The infection affects the bottom of the bulb. During the growing season, the symptoms of fusarium on the bulb may appear weakly, but during storage the disease develops quickly.

Garlic

Not just one, but several species of Fusarium can infect garlic. The crop gets sick both during the growing season and during storage.

Visible signs are brown stripes on the feathers and pink coating in the sinuses. Over time, the dark stripes become larger and the leaves turn yellow. The roots begin to rot and die.

During storage, the lower part of the heads becomes watery and becomes covered with white, yellow or pink spores.

Cabbage

Fusarium appears at all stages of the growing season, starting with seedlings. The leaves turn yellow and lose density.

The affected areas become brown, dry and brittle, while healthy tissue continues to grow. This causes the leaves to curl and then fall off.

If you cut across a trunk or leaf, you will see dark brown rings of clogged vessels. If the infection is severe, the heads of cabbage become deformed and have no rosette leaves. You will read about other cabbage diseases.

Strawberries

The first symptoms are noticeable during the ripening of the berries. The edges of the leaves dry out, the green parts of the leaf look a little lethargic. Then the leaves and petioles turn dark brown. The diseased bush falls apart in different directions and dies.

Houseplants

General signs of the disease: leaves become spotted or completely yellow, and their edges become watery. The tops of the stems wither, become thinner and dry out, or turn brown in places.

Rotting spots appear in some areas. On shoots you can sometimes see fungal spores in the form of a gray coating.

Orchids

In diseased orchids, the roots and root collar rot. In areas of damage, the leaves become yellow and the stems become thin.

Dark gray or brown rings appear inside the stem in places where fungi are activated. The upper part of the orchids withers, and soon the entire plant dies.

Corn

During the stage of formation and ripening of the cobs, the leaves and roots wither and dry out. The cob is partially or completely covered with a white-pink coating. The grains become dirty brown and crumble easily.

Coniferous

Young plants suffer most from fusarium. At first, the disease occurs hidden in the root system.

Due to blockage of blood vessels, normal nutrition in the tissues is stopped. The needles change color, first turning yellow, then red and falling off. The branches dry out, the crown thins out.

Means to combat fusarium

Chemicals

Maksim

Used for dressing bulbs, tubers before planting, and treating rhizomes. 4 ml of the suspension product is poured into 2 liters of water. This solution is enough for 2 kg of planting material.

Vitaros

A preparation for treating seeds, bulbs, rhizomes of flower crops before planting and storing. Application rate: 2 ml of the drug per 1 liter of water.

Fundazol

Strong systemic fungicide. The concentration of the drug is 10–15 g per 10 liters of water. During the season, 2 treatments are carried out with an interval of 10–14 days.

During the fruiting stage, it is safer to use biological preparations. They are used only on moist soil, as they contain living microorganisms and bacteria.

Gamair, Alirin-B

To spray plants, dissolve 1–2 tablets in 1 liter of water. Repeated treatment in open ground is carried out after 2–3 weeks. For indoor plants – after 1 month.

Glyocladin

The consumption rate of gliocladin is 1 tablet per 300–400 ml of soil. It is mixed with soil and left for a week to disinfect the soil.

Trichocin

The drug is produced in powder. A solution is prepared from it for spraying plants and watering the soil. 6 g of trichocin are dissolved in 10 liters of water. Leave for 1-2 hours and use once every 2 weeks. This amount of solution is enough for 1 hundred square meters.

Trichodermin

Shows protective properties at a temperature of 12°C. 50 g of the product are diluted in 2–5 liters of warm water. Leave for 1 hour, and then water the soil, spray indoor and garden crops, or soak seeds, tubers, and roots of seedlings for 20 minutes 1–2 days before planting.

Fitosporin-M

The drug is available in liquid, powder and paste form. It is compatible with other fungicides.

Consumption rate:

• liquid product - 10 drops per glass of water;
• in powder - for tubers and rhizomes - 10 g per 0.5 l of water, for seeds - 0.5 tsp of powder per 100 ml of water, for treating plants in beds - 5-6 g per 10 l of water, for house plants – 0.5 tsp per 2 liters of water.
• First, a concentrate is prepared from the paste in a 1:2 ratio, then water is added. For seeds – 2 drops of concentrate per 100 ml of water, for indoor plants – 10 drops per 1 liter of water, for tubers and bulbs – 3 tbsp. l per 1 glass of water, for spraying plant foliage - 4 drops per 1 glass of water.

Traditional methods

• Garlic and onions have fungicidal properties. 2 handfuls of onion peels or 200 g of chopped garlic (garlic arrows) are poured into 1 liter of warm water and left for 2 hours. Then add 8 liters of water to the infusion, filter it and spray the plants.
• Laundry soap, ash, whey or sour milk, and iodine are added to homemade solutions for fusarium. 35–40 drops of pharmaceutical iodine are dissolved in 10 liters of water. If you use whey or milk instead of water, the effect will be better.
• 250–300 g of sifted ash is poured with boiling water. The cooled solution is filtered, 10 liters of water are poured and 40–50 g of laundry soap are added. Spraying is carried out in the evening in dry weather.

Prevention

A plant infected with fusarium cannot be cured. That's why timely prevention is so important. Preventive measures, in addition to the use of drugs, include:

• maintaining the soil in a loose state. Liming soil that is too acidic will reduce the risk of fusarium;
• compliance with crop rotation;
• pre-sowing inspection, selection and disinfection of planting material;
• dosed use of organic matter and mineral nitrogen;
• regular removal of weeds from the site; contaminated plant debris should not be composted;
• extermination of pests that carry infection.

In the fight against fusarium there must be an integrated approach. This is the only way to get a good harvest from healthy plants.

You will learn more about fusarium blight on different plants from the video.

Fusarium grain blight is a plant disease that causes significant losses in both yield and the quality of harvested grain. Infection of grain with Fusarium fungi leads to a decrease in germination energy and seed germination. Some fungal species produce mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and NT-2 toxins, zearalenone, nivalenol, etc. Mycotoxins present in grain make it unsuitable for food and feed purposes.

Fusarium grain blight is caused by various species of fungi of the genus Fusarium.

The most dangerous and widespread species in the Russian Federation are:

• Fusarium graminearum
• Fusarium culmorum
• Fusarium sporotrichioides
• Fusarium langsethiae
• Fusarium avenaceum
• Fusarium poae
  Species of fungi of the genus Fusarium

  F. graminearum

  
  F. culmorum

  
  F. avenaceum

  
  F. sporotrichioides

  
  F. langsethiae

  
  F. poae

  Symptoms of fusarium head blight

  Symptoms include:

  Pink-orange coating of mycelium and fungal sporulation on the glumes of the ear

  

  

  

  Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. avenaceum

  Pale pink sporulation of the fungus on the glumes

  

  

  Fusarium sporotrichioides, F. poae and others

  Eye spot on glumes

  

  

  

  Fusarium tricinctum, F. sporotrichioides and others

  Formation of puny, wrinkled, lightweight grains

  

  

  The main signs of grain affected by fusarium

  • the affected grains are puny, wrinkled with a depressed deep groove and pointed barrels;
  • the surface of the grain is discolored or pinkish, without shine;
  • endosperm is loose, crumbling; low glassiness of the grain or its complete loss;
  • in the groove and especially in the embryonic part of the grain there is a cobweb-like coating of fungal mycelium, white or pink, and pads of conidia accumulation;
  • The grain embryo is nonviable, dark in color on the cut.

  

  However, apparently healthy grain can also be affected by fungi and contain mycotoxins!

  Life cycle of fungi of the genus Fusarium

  

  Distribution of fungi of the genus Fusarium

  Fusarium fungi overwinter in the form of mycelium and spores on dying plant debris, such as straw and stubble.

  Ascospores, which develop in fruiting bodies (perithecia), spread by the wind long distances. Conidiospores They infect the ear, then form again on the affected glumes and are spread by wind and raindrops to other ears during the growing season before harvesting.

  
  Chlamydospores

  
  Conidia

  
  Ascospores

  
  Perithecia

  The process of plant infection by fungi

  Infection of secondary spikelets

  During flowering, ascospores or conidia penetrate into the inner part of the grain shell

  After flowering, the hypha of the fungus penetrates the ear tissue and can infect the resulting grain at all stages of its development.

  

  Microscopic development

  
  Conidia develop on the surface of the plant...

  
  form mycelium...

  
  penetrate the plant...

  
  and develop in tissue...

  
  After the incubation period, symptoms appear and new conidia are formed

  Reasons for increased damage to grain by fusarium

  • Saturation of crop rotation with grain crops
  • Direct seeding and minimum tillage
  • Susceptible varieties
  • Warm weather and high humidity during flowering - ripening and harvesting of plants
  • Lack of protection methods!!!

  Direct yield losses up to 15-20%
  Loss of grain quality up to 100%

  Factors influencing infection

  Fusarium infection is affected by three main risk factors:

  
  1. Weather during flowering

  
  2. Tillage

  
  3. Previous culture

  Influence of weather conditions

  Grain damage is possible at all stages of its formation.

  Plants are especially susceptible to fusarium in the flowering phase under conditions of high humidity and temperatures around 20-25°C (especially F. graminearum).

  

  However, for the development of Fusarium sporotrichioides, F. poae, such indicators as high humidity and temperature are not key!

  Effect of tillage

  Tillage methods have a great influence on the development of fusarium.

  

  • The presence of fungal-infected plant residues on the surface or in the surface layers of the soil after minimal processing greatly increase the likelihood of infection of growing plants.
  • This means that the risk of infection can be reduced by plowing up the leftovers plants into the soil, where they decompose faster.

  No-Till or minimum tillage increases the risk of developing Fusarium

  * DON - deoxynivalenol

  Impact of crop rotations

  

  • The rotation of crops in a crop rotation has a particular impact on the potential development of infection.
  • Saturation of crop rotation with grain crops promotes the accumulation of inoculum.
  • Short crop rotation, especially including corn, increases the damage to plants by fusarium.
  • Beetroot is also an unfavorable predecessor.

  Influence of previous culture

  Corn and other grain precursors significantly increase the risk of fusarium

  

  Influence of variety resistance

  

  • Cultivation of resistant varieties has a greater impact on reducing disease incidence and improving grain quality.
  • Most cultivated varieties of grain crops are susceptible to fusarium.
  • Bread wheat varieties vary in level of susceptibility from relatively resistant to highly susceptible.
  • Durum wheat and oats are highly susceptible to fusarium grain blight.

  

  What is the effect of fusarium on grain?

  • Productivity
  • Seed quality of seeds (reduced germination energy and germination)
  • Nutritional value of grain-based food and feed products due to the presence of mycotoxins
  • Baking qualities of flour
  • Beer quality (hashing effect)

  

  Fusarium and food quality

  During heat treatment, the level of mycotoxins does not decrease!

  Bread quality

  Fusarium-infected grains are of low quality and produce dense bread with large pores

  

  Quality of pasta

  Fusarium affects the quality standard in terms of viscoelasticity and color of pasta made from durum wheat.

  

  Beer quality

  Spontaneous and intense foam formation can lead to rapid, uncontrolled emptying of the bottle, similar to the gushing effect.

  

  The influence of fusarium on bread quality

  
  Uninfected grain

  
  Grain affected by fusarium

  • Mycotoxins produced by various types of fungi. Fusarium have various toxicological properties.
  • Mycotoxins have different effects on different species, such as pigs, poultry, humans, etc.
  • The most common mycotoxins in cereals are deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin

  
  DON

  
  T-2 toxin

  
  Zearalenone

  Type of mushroom	Trichothecenes		Zearalenone	Fumonisins	Moniliformin
  	Type A 1	Type B 2
  		DON, NIV	+
  	T-2/HT-2
  		NIV, DAS
  					+
  				+

  1 - trichothecenes type A: T-2 and HT-2 toxins, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)
  2 - trichothecenes type B: deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV)

  Fusarium - a threat to people in the past and present

  Mitotoxin toxicity

  All mycotoxins cause decreased immunity

  	Toxicity
  Trichothecenes type A (T-2, HT-2, DAS)	The most toxic metabolites. More toxic than type B trichothecenes Responsible for nutritional toxic aleukia (ATA) Causes epidermal necrosis and ulcerative stomatitis, serious gastrointestinal disorders that can lead to death
  Trichothecenes type B (DON, NIV)	Acute toxicity characterized by vomiting (more sensitive in pigs), food refusal, weight loss, diarrhea, tissue necrosis No indication of carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic effects
  Zearalenone	Reduce animal productivity Estrogenic effects causing infertility, miscarriage (pigs are especially sensitive) Possible effect on cervical cancer in women
  Fumonisins	Equine leukoencephalomalacia (a disease of horses), characterized by neurotoxic effects, pulmonary and cerebral edema, and liver damage Possible link to esophageal cancer in humans
  Moniliformin	Changes in cardiac muscle tissue Intestinal bleeding (limited studies)

  Distribution of deoxynivaleonol in fusarium wheat milling products

  Fraction	Deoxynivalenol content
  	mg/kg	% to original grain
  Source grain	5,4	100
  Flour 70% yield	2,16	40
  Flour with Sh etc. and 3rd size. systems	3,6	67
  Torn bran	9	167
  Grinding bran	7,71	142

  It has been proven that in bread made from fusarium grain the content of mycotoxins does not decrease, and sometimes even increases, especially when producing yeast dough and bread!

  Effect of mycotoxins on animals

  Wheat represents 50% of pig growth feed. If mycotoxins are present, feed consumption by pigs is significantly reduced. Serious symptoms include refusal to eat, weight loss and vomiting. Moreover, reproductive function may be affected

  The influence of mycotoxins on feed consumption by pigs

  

  Impact of fusariotoxins contained in feed on the health of animals and poultry

  

  

  

  

  • Refusal to feed
  • Decrease in productivity
  • Immunosuppression
  • Damage to internal organs (liver, kidneys, reproductive system organs, etc.)
  • Ulcerative stomatitis
  • Epidermal necrosis

  LD 50 for some mycotoxins through the gastrointestinal tract

  Mycotoxin	LD 50 for mice		LD 50 for poultry
  	mg/kg FA	Relates. toxicity	mg/kg FA	Relates. toxicity
  T-2 toxin	5,2	1,0	5,0	1,0
  HT-2 toxin	9,2	1,8	7,2	1,4
  DON	70,0	13,5	140,0	28,0
  Nivalenol (NIV)	4,1	0,8	—	—
  Diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)	23,0	4,4	3,8	0,7
  Moniliformin	20,0	3,8	5,4	1,1

  Occurrence of species of the genus Fusarium in grain samples from various regions of Russia

  Type of mushroom	Region of the Russian Federation
  	North Caucasus	CCR + Center	Vol. Vyatsky	North West	Ural	Siberia	Far East
  F. graminearum	+++	++		+			+++
  F. culmorum		++	++	+		+	+
  F. sporotrichioides	+++	++	+++	+++	+++	+++	+++
  F. langsethiae	++	+		++
  F. poae	++	+++	+++	+++	+++	+	+++
  F. cerealis	++	+					++
  F. avenaceum	++	++	+++	+++	++	++	++
  F. tricinctum	+	++	++	++			+
  F. verticillioides	++		+				++

  The ability of fungi of the genus Fusarium to cause typical symptoms of fusarium and produce a mycotoxin characteristic of the species

  Type of mushroom	Presence of typical symptoms of fusarium		Mycotoxin produced
  	generative organ	corn
  F. graminearum	++	++	DON, ZEN
  F. culmorum	++	++	DON, ZEN
  F. sporotrichioides	+	-	T-2
  F. langsethiae	-	-	T-2
  F. poae	-	-	NIV
  F. tricinctum	+	-	MON
  F. avenaceum	++	+	MON
  F. verticillioides (on corn)	++	+	FUM

  Mass phenomenon; + possible phenomenon; - absence

  The share of species of fungi of the genus Fusarium (%) in winter wheat grain from the Krasnodar Territory in 2010-2011

  2010

  

  

  2011

  

  

  The share of species of fungi of the genus Fusarium (%) in winter wheat grain from the Stavropol Territory in 2010-2011

  2010

  

  

  2011

  

  

  Proportion of samples (%) of wheat grain with different levels of Fusarium infection in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories

  2010

  On average, federal law - 3,1% - 6,9%

  

  2011

  On average, federal law - 2,6% - 4,3%

  

  How to identify fusarium?

  Visual assessment

  In areas where the species F.graminearum, F.culmorum, and F.avenaceum are distributed, visible symptoms of fusarium blight on ears can be detected in the field. However, this method is not reliable enough.

  

  How to identify Fusarium?

  Mycological analysis

  In the laboratory, infected plant parts can be placed in a growing medium that encourages fungal growth.

  After a few days of incubation, fungi of the genus Fusarium can be identified under a microscope based on their characteristic taxonomic features.

  

  

  Molecular biological methods: the principle of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostics

  • PCR is based on enzymatic amplification of a DNA fragment
    using an enzyme (Taq polymerase).
  • The chain reaction is a process that occurs in three stages (denaturation, annealing and expansion), repeated in several cycles.
  • At each stage of the process, the number of copies doubles from two to four, then to eight, and so on. After 20 cycles there are approximately 1 million copies, which is enough material to determine the desired DNA using the traditional method

  Diagnosis of Fusarium using PCR technologies

  • PCR is a relatively fast and reliable method for identifying fungi.
  • Allows you to detect the presence of a certain type or several types of fungi in plant tissue.
  • Detection of the number of fungi is possible using quantitative PCR (real-time PCR). The amount of fungal DNA detected is related to the presence of mycotoxins produced by them.

  

  

  Planar Waveguide Technology

  A reliable and fast method using innovative planar waveguide technology to determine four to five toxins per measurement!!!

  • Simultaneous determination of several mycotoxins.
  • Ease of sample preparation.
  • Quick result (25 min).
  • No special laboratory training required

  

  

  How to fight fusarium?

  For many years, scientists around the world have been working on the problem fusarium- a disease widespread throughout the world that affects various grain crops.

  Intensive research work has led to a better understanding of disease aspects and the development of optimal solutions to suppress pathogenic fungi and reduce their negative impact on product quality.

  Application of fungicides

  Azoles are the best weapon against fusarium!

  Treating crops with a fungicide during flowering is an important method of combating fusarium.

  
  

Fusarium wilt, or as it is also called dry rot, is a dangerous fungal disease that affects the vascular system of garden and agricultural crops. This disease also affects plant tissue, causing roots, seeds and fruits to rot.

ATTENTION: The fusarium fungus releases toxic substances that disrupt the vital functions of crops. Sick specimens stop blooming and bearing fruit, their foliage turns yellow and falls off, the root system does not develop and darkens.

Where and how is it formed?

Fusarium wilt begins from the root system of the plant: the fungus penetrates from the soil through small roots, then moves along large roots and then through drainage vessels into the stems and leaves. Therefore, first, the leaves of the affected crop wither on the lower tiers, while on the remaining foliage the edges become watery, and light green and yellowish spots form on the plates.

The vessels of the petioles of a diseased plant are weak, and the limp leaves hang like rags. With high humidity, a thin white coating can be observed on them.

Conditions for dry rot to appear

Factors activating fusarium pathogens:

How dangerous is the disease?

This disease is dangerous because not only the foliage of the infected crop withers, but also its main branch, the roots rot, and the bush eventually dies out completely. If fusarium is not recognized in time and measures are not taken to cure the plant, it will not only die itself, but will also infect its fellow plant members through the soil.

Symptoms on different crops and treatment methods

In recent years, not only agricultural crops (legumes, grains, melons), but also almost all grown vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, cabbage), bulbous plants (onions, garlic, tulips, hyacinths, tulips) have been at risk of contracting fusarium wilt. , daffodils), berry bushes (currants, gooseberries, strawberries, strawberries) and fruit trees (plums, apple trees, pears, peaches, apricots).

How to fight fusarium? To eliminate fusarium disease and prevent it from spreading, the following control measures are used:

1. Reject and destroy completely already infected specimens.
2. Spray the remaining healthy plants and soil with a solution of potassium permanganate and boric acid.
3. It is also recommended to sprinkle the beds with ash and powdered sulfur.
4. Liming with chalk and dolomite flour helps reduce the risk of fusarium disease, since this fungus does not tolerate neutral soil conditions saturated with calcium.

To date, various fungicides have been developed and are successfully used, the action of which is aimed at combating fusarium fungus:

• Benefit.
• Winner.
• Fitosporin.
• Sporobacterin and many others.

How to deal with gray rot on cucumbers?

How to detect:

1. Fusarium affects the vascular system of the cucumber bush. If you cut the stem or leaf of a cucumber, darkened vessels will be visible on its cut.
2. Fusarium wilt can be identified by the beginning of rotting of the root collar and roots of the bush. The stem in this place darkens and becomes thinner, and the leaves turn yellow and wither. The plant blooms poorly, and its ovaries die off after flowering.

Fusarium blight on cucumbers is dangerous because no 100% effective control method has been invented against this fungus. Therefore, it is better to prevent the development of the disease with the help of preventive measures than to fight it later.

Prevention measures:

1. Soil treatment. Disinfection with boiling water or green manure obtained from lupine and mustard.
2. Temperature compliance. For example, cucumber seedlings undergo hardening in a greenhouse before being planted in open ground. This subsequently makes the leaves of mature plants more resistant to wilting.
3. Proper watering. Avoid excessive waterlogging of the soil.

Biological products and fungicides can be used as preventive measures to combat Fusarium wilt of cucumbers.

Let's look at them.

Biological products:

• "Trichodermin"– is considered the most effective remedy from this series. It must be added to slightly moistened soil 2 days before planting seedlings.
• "Bactofit", "Planriz" and "Trichofite"– good preventative agents for spraying seedlings and soil.

Chemicals:

• Fungicide "Fundazol"– the most effective remedy for combating fungus. Used to treat seeds before sowing.
• "Previkur Energy"– designed for treating seeds before planting in the soil.

Strawberry treatment

How to detect the disease:

1. The ground part of the strawberry bush and the root system acquire a brown tint.
2. The leaves turn yellow and dry out. The ovaries do not form, the antennae become brown and deformed.

How to fight:

1. Correct crop rotation on the site: competent selection of strawberry predecessors.
2. Treatment of an infected plant with the systemic fungicide “Fundazol”. Benomyl, the active component of this drug, is absorbed by the roots and leaves, moving up the plant, accumulating from its apical part. The main systemic function of “Fundazol” is that protection extends to all organs of the plant, even those that are not exposed to the working composition during spraying.
3. Fungicidal drug "Benorad" with a wide spectrum of action. It is very effective for the treatment and prevention of many fungal diseases of strawberries, including Fusarium wilt. Active protection lasts up to 10 days during the growing season of the plant.

Ways to combat tomato disease

IMPORTANT: Tomatoes are susceptible to fusarium disease at any stage of life, and seeds can also be infected through the soil. But signs of the disease appear only at the time of flowering or fruiting.

How to detect:

How to fight:

• Preventive measures: disinfection of seeds and soil before planting tomatoes.
• Removing the affected bushes by the roots to completely eliminate the source of infection.

How to treat sunflower baskets?

Signs of the disease in sunflower appear after flowering, when the seeds begin to ripen. How the disease manifests itself:

1. Slightly softened dark brown spots appear on the back of the basket, which during the course of the disease cover its entire surface. The basket begins to quickly dry out and harden.
2. A gray coating appears on the front of the basket between the seeds. The mycelium penetrates the sunflower seeds, which become half-empty and taste bitter.

How to fight:

1. Competent crop rotation.
2. Sowing sunflower varieties and hybrids more resistant to fungal diseases.
3. Treating seeds before sowing.
4. Treatment of seed and soil with fungicides KKr or Title Duo.

Preventive measures

1. Use of healthy seed material, stock.
2. Growing varieties and hybrids resistant to this genus of disease.
3. Planting seed in disinfected beds.
4. Adding nitrate nitrogen to the soil, which will help slow down the development of the disease in the infected field.
5. Preventing new areas with healthy plants from becoming infected with fungal spores that can be carried by agricultural machinery and equipment.

Conclusion

No garden or field crop can be completely protected from infection by such a dangerous and rapidly developing disease as Fusarium wilt. But preventive measures and timely detection of the disease will help save the crop and prevent the crop from dying.

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