Previous View
 
APSnet Home
 
Phytopathology Home


VIEW ARTICLE

Fertilization and Wheat Refuse Effects on Fusarium Species Associated with Wheat Roots in Minnesota. H. L. Warren, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55101; Thor Kommedahl, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55101. Phytopathology 63:103-108. Accepted for publication 26 July 1972. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-103.

Isolations from roots, soil, rhizosphere, and crop residues of wheat (Triticum aestivum ‘Chris’) in field plots yielded six species of Fusarium: F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. roseum, F. tricinctum, F. moniliforme, and F. episphaeria. Fusarium oxysporum was dominant, followed by F. solani and F. roseum. Seedling blight caused by Fusarium spp. averaged 1-2% when fertilizer and residues were present, and 11-14% when both were absent. Fertilizer alone gave a lower blight incidence, lower root disease indices, and fewer Fusarium-infected roots than did residue alone. In a year when seedling blight was severe, Fusarium roseum comprised 90% of the Fusarium isolates from roots, followed by F. oxysporum and F. solani. Of the F. roseum cultivars, Graminearum comprised 70%, followed by Avenaceum and Culmorum with 15% each. The removal of wheat residue (mainly surface) resulted in greater survival of F. oxysporum and less survival of F. roseum and F. solani in soil.

Additional keywords: Helminthosporium sativum, seedling blight.