Relative Pathogenicity of Selected Fusarium Species and Microdochium bolleyi to Winter Wheat in New York. R. T. Kane, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. R. W. Smiley, and M. E. Sorrells. Department of Plant Pathology, and Department of Plant Breeding, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Plant Dis. 71:177-181. Accepted for publication 21 July 1986. Copyright 1987 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-71-0177.

Fusarium graminearum, F. avenaceum, F. tricinctum, and Microdochium bolleyi are the most frequently isolated species from winter wheat affected by foot and crown rot in New York. Under greenhouse conditions, F. graminearum caused preemergence and postemergence death of winter wheat (cultivar Houser) seedlings and reduced tillering and seed yields of survivors. F. avenaceum had similar effects on growth and yield but caused less seedling mortality. Effects of F. tricinctum and M. bolleyi inoculations were less severe, although reductions in growth and yield were noted at high F. tricinctum inoculum levels. Under field conditions, F. graminearum caused significant reductions in emergence, stand density, and yield of Houser wheat at two locations. F. avenaceum reduced seedling emergence at one location but did not affect yield. M. bolleyi and F. tricinctum had no significant effects on wheat growth or yield in field studies.