VIEW ARTICLE

Ecology and Epidemiology

Wind and Rain Dispersal of Fusarium moniliforme in Corn Fields. J. J. Ooka, Assistant Plant Pathologist, University of Hawaii, Kauai Branch, Kapaa, HI 96746 and former Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota; Thor Kommedahl, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. Phytopathology 67:1023-1026. Accepted for publication 18 February 1977. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-1023.

During the 1972 and 1973 growing seasons, an Andersen air sampler was used to monitor populations of Fusarium moniliforme in a corn field. Colonies of F. moniliforme ranged from 8 to 78 × 10⁴/liter air in 1972 and from 6 to 271 × 10⁴ in 1973. Fewest propagules were trapped in May 1972 or July 1973 and the most in August 1972 or September 1973. Propagules of F. moniliforme varied from 50 to 3,200 per 20 cm² of corn leaf surface in the field; the fungus also was isolated from distal ends of silks. Air passing over corn obtained from a corn crib carried Fusarium spp. propagules, 95% of which were F. moniliforme. Circumstantial evidence for long-distance dissemination (300-400 km) of Fusarium spp. was obtained and 56% were propagules of F. moniliforme. Rain splash water collected over a corn field carried from 4 to 40 propagules of F. moniliforme per milliliter of water. From 3 to 50 × 10⁴ propagules of F. moniliforme were detected per milliliter of leaf sheath water.