Instant Insights: Fusarium in cereals

This specially curated collection features four reviews of current and key research on fusarium in cereal crops.

The first chapter describes how progress can be built over current agricultural practices in integrated pest management plans. It also addresses the disease cycle of Fusarium head blight, host–pathogen interactions, genetic resistance, the role of mycotoxins, as well as the impact of the disease on yields and loss of crop quality.

The second chapter reviews current research on the main fungal diseases affecting barley, as well as what we know about the mechanisms of barley genetic resistance to fungal pathogens. It features detailed discussions on biotrophic foliar diseases such as stem rust and powdery mildew and necrotrophic diseases such as spot blotch and Fusarium head blight.

The third chapter reviews control measures for Fusarium head blight, wheat blast and powdery mildew, including the development of resistant cultivars.

The final chapter considers the current status of global wheat production, the impact of crop loss on food security and the emergence of the current regulatory environment surrounding pesticides. It also features discussions on the current status of the global fungicide market.

Chapter 1 - Fusarium diseases: biology and management perspectives: Edward C. Rojas, Hans J. L. Jørgensen, Birgit Jensen and David B. Collinge, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; 1 Introduction 2 Fusarium epidemiology and distribution 3 Disease cycle and infection 4 Host–pathogen interaction 5 Genetic resistance 6 Mycotoxins 7 Yield and quality losses 8 Disease management 9 Future trends 10 Conclusion 11 Acknowledgements 12 Where to look for further information 13 References
Chapter 2 - Fungal diseases affecting barley: Robert S. Brueggeman, Shyam Solanki, Gazala Ameen and Karl Effertz, Washington State University, USA; Roshan Sharma Poudel, North Dakota State University, USA; and Aziz Karakaya, Ankara University, Turkey; 1 Introduction 2 Understanding plant genetic resistance to fungal pathogens 3 Biotrophic foliar diseases: stem rust 4 Leaf rust 5 Stripe rust 6 Powdery mildew 7 Necrotrophic diseases: spot blotch 8 Net blotch 9 Ramularia leaf spot 10 Septoria speckled leaf blotch 11 Scald 12 Fusarium head blight 13 A seed-borne disease: barley stripe 14 Conclusion 15 References
Chapter 3 - Advances in control of wheat diseases: Fusarium head blight, wheat blast and powdery mildew: Hermann Buerstmayr, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria; Volker Mohler, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, Germany; and Mohan Kohli, Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Paraguay; 1 Introduction
2 Occurrence of Fusarium head blight, wheat blast and powdery mildew
3 Agronomic control measures
4 Chemical and/or biological control
5 Disease forecasting and decision support for farmers
6 Adoption of resistant cultivars
7 Genomics-assisted resistance breeding
8 Future trends and needs in research
9 Where to look for further information
10 References

Chapter 4 - Challenges and prospects for fungicidal control of wheat diseases: R. J. Bryson and H-D. Brix, BASF SE, Germany; 1 Introduction 2 Global wheat production 3 Crop loss, plant health and the value of fungicide applications 4 Evolution of the pesticide regulatory environment 5 Status of the global fungicide market 6 Conclusion and future trends 7 References