Five-year survey uncovers extensive diversity and temporal fluctuations among fusarium head blight pathogens of wheat and barley in Brazil

We conducted a five-year survey (2011-2015) of barley and wheat fields in Parana state, Brazil, obtaining 754 Fusarium isolates from spikes with fusarium head blight (FHB)-symptoms. Multilocus genotyping and TEF-1 alpha gene sequence analyses confirmed the dominance of the F. graminearum species complex (FGSC, 75.7%), but F. poae (11.5%), as well as F. avenaceum and related members of the F. tricinctum species complex (FTSC, 8.1%) appeared as substantial contributors to FHB. Within the FGSC, F. graminearum of the 15-ADON genotype was dominant (63%), followed by F. meridionale of the NIV genotype (23.1%), F. cortaderiae of the NIV (7%) or 3-ADON (2.6%) genotypes, and F. austroamericanum (3.8%) of the 3-ADON genotype. Substantial variation in pathogen composition was observed across years, with F. poae and F. meridionale frequencies significantly elevated in some years. Most F. poae strains produced DAS, diANIV, and butenolide, but not neosolaniol, T-2, or HT-2. All FTSC species produced moniliformin. Enniatin production was widespread among FTSC species, with the single F. acuminatum strain found to be the strongest producer of enniatins. Our findings confirm FGSC as a major contributor to FHB and expand considerably our knowledge of the presence, frequency, and conditions under which other pathogens may emerge, altering the spectrum of toxins that may accumulate in grain.

Automated summary

The study conducted in barley and wheat fields in Parana state, Brazil, identified different Fusarium species, confirmed the dominance of the Fusarium graminearum species complex in fusarium head blight, and observed significant variation in pathogen composition across years.