Poster: Biology & Disease Mgmt: Mycology
41-P
Evaluation of chemotype, pathogenicity, and aggressiveness of Fusarium graminearum isolates of wheat and soybean
B. MUELLER (1), B. Mueller (1), C. Groves (1), D. Mueller (1) (1) University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A.
Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of head blight (FHB) of wheat and damping off disease of soybean. F. graminearum can be classified as one of three chemotypes: 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), and nivalenol (NIV). Besides causing yield loss, F. graminearum in wheat, reduces seed quality by contaminating grain with deoxynivalenol (DON) and NIV and can threaten animal and human health. Previously, 15-ADON was found to be the predominant F. graminearum chemotype in North America. Recently, however, the more aggressive 3-ADON chemotype is increasing in prevalence in Canada and the United States. Twelve total isolates of F. graminearum were collected in Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa and Indiana from soybean and wheat between 2007 and 2015. Characterization of F. graminearum isolates were done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chemotyping. Thus far, all 12 isolates are the 15-ADON chemotype. Additional isolates will be collected in Wisconsin and further research will evaluate pathogenicity and aggressiveness on soybean and soft red winter wheat in Wisconsin. Results of this study will pave the way for the development of improved management options for Wisconsin farmers.