EVALUATION OF FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT CAUSAL SPECIES AND DISEASE FORECASTS FOR THE MARITIME PROVINCES OF CANADA

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum is an important consideration in cereal production as the fungus reduces yields and deposits mycotoxins in grain. Characteristics of the Fusarium spp. population found in the Maritime provinces of Canada are not well understood thus, an objective of this study was to describe the local population. Wheat and barley samples from 39 sites across the Maritimes were surveyed to determine Fusarium spp. and mycotoxins present from 2018 to 2021. Management of FHB may be supported by disease forecasting systems therefore, FHB forecasts were evaluated in comparison to epidemic records and field experiments. Fusarium graminearum was the primary causal species of concern and deoxynivalenol was the most abundant mycotoxin detected each year. FHB was most accurately forecasted using 7-day pre-anthesis relative humidity and temperature. This study represents the first multi-year survey of FHB causal species and evaluation of FHB forecasting in the Maritimes.