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Project 1. Intergrating Strategies in Mitigate Fusarium Head Blight and DON in Winter Wheat: This project is part of a multi-state cooperative integrated management effort on Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat caused primarily by Fusarium graminearum. The overall goal of the project is to use an integrated approach to more effectively manage FHB and deoxynivalenol (DON).<P> Project 2. Predicting Development of Fusarium Head Blight and DON in Winter Wheat: This project is part of a multi-state cooperative epidemiology and disease forecasting effort on Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and barley caused primarily by Fusarium graminearum. The overall goals of the project are to (A) collect data to be used in developing a deoxynivalenol (DON) module that can be added to existing FHB prediction models and (B) improve pre-harvest estimates of DON based on visual assessments of disease.
Approach: Project 1. Intergrating Strategies in Mitigate Fusarium Head Blight and DON in Winter Wheat: At the beginning of anthesis, two fungicide treatments (spray with Prosaro and non-sprayed control) will be applied to each cultivar. Plots will be visually rated for FHB severity at the soft-dough stage. At harvest, yield data, test weight, and percentage of visually scabby kernels will be recorded, and samples will be analyzed for DON content. We will record environmental data using an automated weather station. These data will be furnished to the epidemiology/disease forecasting group for use in developing FHB/DON prediction models to be used as part of an integrated approach to managing FHB/DON. We will accomplish the third objecting by disseminating project results through electronic and print media and presentations at field days. <P>Project 2. Predicting Development of Fusarium Head Blight and DON in Winter Wheat: Wheat (total of five cultivars) will be planted in late September/early October 2006. Environmental data will be recorded using an automated weather station starting in April 2007 and continuing through harvest. Disease incidence and severity data will be collected and used to calculate an FHB index. Following harvest, wheat grain samples will be submitted to a specialized lab for DON analysis. This project seeks to fill existing knowledge gaps on the role the environment, cultivar, and their interaction in DON accumulation, and methods to improve pre-harvest estimates of DON based on visual assessment of disease and spatial distribution of disease in the field.