Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of climatic factors on Fusarium species pathogenic to cereals

  • Chapter
Epidemiology of Mycotoxin Producing Fungi

Abstract

Fusarium head blight of small-grain cereals, ear rot of maize, seedling blight and foot rot of cereals are important diseases throughout the world.Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. poae, F. avenaceum and Microdochium nivale (formerly known as F. nivale) predominantly cause Fusarium diseases of small-grain cereals. Maize is predominantly attacked by F. graminearum, F. moniliforme, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. These species differ in their climatic distribution and in the optimum climatic conditions required for their persistence. This review deals with the influence of climate on the production and dispersal of inocula, growth, competition, mycotoxin production and pathogenicity. Most species produce inocula, grow best, and are most pathogenic to cereal heads at warm temperatures and under humid conditions. However, the optimal conditions for F. moniliforme and F. proliferatum maize ear rot tend to be hot and dry andM. nivale head blight, seedling blight and foot rot of small-grain cereals tend to occur under cooler conditions. Seedling blight and foot rot caused by other species are favoured by warm dry weather. Between them, these fungi produce four important classes of mycotoxins: trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins and moniliformin. Conditions favourable for in vitro growth are also generally the most favourable for mycotoxin production on cereal grains. These fungi rarely exist in isolation, but occur as a complex with each other and with otherFusaria and other fungal genera. Climatic conditions will influence competition between, and the predominance of, different fungi within this complex.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Al-Karaghouli AA and Al-Kayssi AW (2001) Influence of soil moisture content on soil solarisation efficiency. Renewable Energy 24: 131–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen AL (1948) The development of Gibberella zeae head blight of wheat. Phytopathology 38: 595–611

    Google Scholar 

  • Atansoff D (1920) Fusarium blight (scab) of wheat and other cereals. Journal of Agricultural Research 20: 1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Barran LR, Schneider EF and Seaman WL (1977) Requirements for the rapid conversion of macroconidia of Fusarium sulphureum to chlamydospores. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 23: 148–151

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman GL and Murray G (2001) Seasonal variation in populations of Fusarium species in wheat-field soil. Applied Soil Ecology 18: 117–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beattie S, Schwarz PB, Horsley R, Barr J and Casper HH (1998) The effect of grain storage conditions on the viability of Fusarium and deoxynivalenol production in infested malting barley. Journal of Food Protection 61: 103–106

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brennan JM, Fagan B, Van Maanen A, Cooke BM and Doohan FM (2003) Studies on in vitro growth and pathogenicity of Fusarium fungi. European Journal of Plant Pathology 109: 577–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cahagnier B, Melcion D and Richard-Molard D (1995) Growth of Fusarium moniliforme and its biosynthesis of fumonisin B1 on maize grain as a function of different water activities. Letters in Applied Microbiology 20: 247–251

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castell´a G, Munkvold GP, Imerman P and Hyde WG (1999) Effects of temperature, incubation period and substrate on the production of fusaproliferin by Fusarium subglutinans ITEM 2404. Natural Toxins 4: 129–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrath U, Pieterse CMJ and Mauch-Mani B (2002) Priming in plant–pathogen interactions. Trends in Plant Science 7: 210–216

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cook RJ and Christen AA (1976) Growth of cereal root rot fungi as affected by temperature–water potential interactions. Phytopathology 66: 193–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das J and Busse HG (1990) Light-driven diurnal zonation in the filamentous fungus Fusarium solani. The International Journal of Developmental Biology 34: 319–322

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D’Mello JPF and Macdonald AMC (1997) Mycotoxins. Animal Feed Science and Technology 69: 155–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Mello JPF, Placinta CM and Macdonald AMC (1999) Fusarium mycotoxins: A review of global implications for animal health, welfare and productivity. Animal Feed Science and Technology 80: 183–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson JG, Johann H and Wineland G (1921) Second progress report on the Fusarium blight (scab) of wheat. Phytopathology 11: 35

    Google Scholar 

  • Doohan FM, Parry DW, Jenkinson P and Nicholson P (1998) The use of species-specific PCR-based assays to analyse Fusarium ear blight of wheat. Plant Pathology 47: 197–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Etcheverry M, Torres A, Ramirez ML, Chulze S and Magan N (2002) In vitro control of growth and fumonisin production by Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum using antioxidants under different water availability and temperature regimes. Journal of Applied Microbiology 92: 624–632

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernando WGD, Paulitz TC, Seaman WL, Dutilleul P and Miller JD (1997) Head blight gradients caused by Gibberella zeae from area sources of inoculum in wheat field plots. Phytopathology 87: 414–421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Francis RG and Burgess LW (1977) Characteristics of Fusarium roseum ‘Graminearum’ in Eastern Australia. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 68: 421–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert J and Tekauz A (2000) Review: Recent developments in research on Fusarium head blight of wheat in Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 22: 1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenhlagh R, Neish GA and Miller JD (1983) Deoxynivalenol, acetyl deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone formation in Canadian isolates of Fusarium graminearum on solid substrates. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 46: 625–629

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths DA (1974) The origin, structure and function of chlamydospores. Nova Hedwigia 25: 503–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall R and Sutton JC (1998) Relation of weather, crop, and soil variables to the prevalence, incidence, and severity of basal infections of winter wheat in Ontario. CanadianJournal of Plant Pathology 20: 69–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homdork S, Fehrmann H and Beck R (2000) Influence of different storage conditions on the mycotoxin production and quality of Fusarium-infected wheat grain. Journal of Phytopathology 148: 7–15

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H¨orberg HM (2002) Patterns of splash dispersed conidia of Fusarium poae and Fusarium culmorum. European Journal of Plant Pathology 108: 73–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkinson P and Parry DW (1994) Splash dispersal of conidia of Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium avenaceum. Mycological Research 98: 506–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jim´enez M, M´añez M and Hern´andez E (1996) Influence of water activity and temperature on the production of zearalenone in corn by three Fusarium species. International Journal of Food Microbiology 29: 417–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Katan J (1981) Solar heating (solarisation) of soil for control of soilborne pests. Annual Review of Phytopathology 19: 211–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller SE, Sullivan TM and Chirtel S (1997) Factors affecting the growth of Fusarium proliferatum and the production of fumonisin B1: oxygen and pH. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 19: 305–309

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecana I, Mielniczuk E, Kaczmarek Z, Kostecki M and Golinski P (2002) Scab response and moniliformin accumulation in kernels of oat genotypes inoculated with Fusarium avenaceum in Poland. European Journal of Plant Pathology 108: 245–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kostecki M, Wisniewska H, Perrone G, Ritieni A, Golinski P, Chelkowski J and Logrieco A (1999) The effects of cereal substrate and temperature on production of beauvericin, moniliformin and fusaproliferin by Fusarium subglutinans ITEM-1434. Food Additives and Contaminants 16: 361–365

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leslie JF (1996) Introductory biology of Fusarium moniliforme. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 392: 153–164

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leslie JF, Marasas WF, Shephard GS, Sydenham EW, Stockenstr¨om S and Thiel PG (1986) Duckling toxicity and the production of fumonisin and moniliformin by isolates in the A and E mating populations of Gibberella fujikuroi ( Fusarium moniliforme ). Applied and Environmental Microbiology 62: 1182–1187

    Google Scholar 

  • Lori GA, Henning CP, Violante A, Alippi HE and Varsavsky E (1990) Relation between the production of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone and the mycelial growth of Fusarium graminearum on solid natural substrates. Microbiologia 6: 76–82

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magan N and Lacey J (1984) Effect of water activity, temperature and substrate on interactions between field and storage fungi. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 82: 83–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magg T, Melchinger AE, Klein D and Bohn M (2002) Relationship between European corn borer resistance and concentration of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. in grains of transgenic Bt maize hybrids, their isogenic counterparts, and commercial varieties. Plant Breeding 121: 146–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mar´ın S, Companys E, Sanchis V and Ramos AJ (1998a) Effect of water activity and temperature on competing abilities of common maize fungi. Mycological Research 120: 959–964

    Google Scholar 

  • Mar´ın S, Companys E, Sanchis V and Ramos AJ (1999a) Two-dimensional profiles of fumonisin B1 production by Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum in relation to environmental factors and potential for modelling toxin formation in maize grain. International Journal of Food Microbiology 51: 159–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mar´ın S, Homedes V, Sanchis V, Ramos AJ and Magan N (1999b) Impact of Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum colonisation of maize on calorific losses and fumonisin production under different environmental conditions. Journal of Stored Food Products 35: 15–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mar´ın S, Sanchis V and Magan N (1995) Water activity, temperature and pH effects on growth of Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum isolates from maize. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 41: 1063–1070

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mar´ın S, Sanchis V, Ramos AJ, Vinas I and Magan N (1998b) Environmental factors, in vitro interactions, and niche overlap between Fusarium moniliforme, F. proliferatum and F. graminearum, Aspergillus and Penicillium species from maize grain. Mycological Research 102: 831–837

    Google Scholar 

  • Mar´ın S, Sanchis V, Teixid´o A, S´aenz R, Ramos AJ, Vinas I and Magan N (1996) Water and temperature relations and microconidial germination of Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum from maize. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 42: 1045–1050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins ML and Martins HM (2002) Influence of water activity, temperature and incubation time on the simultaneous production of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in corn (Zea mays) by Fusarium graminearum. Food Chemistry 79: 315–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mateo JJ, Mateo R and Jim´enez M (2002) Accumulation of type A trichothecenes in maize, wheat and rice by Fusarium sporotrichioides isolates under diverse culture conditions. International Journal of Food Microbiology 72: 115–123

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McMullen MP, Enz J, Lukach J and Stover R (1997) Environmental conditions associated with Fusarium head blight epidemics of wheat and barley in the northern great plains. In: Proceedings of the National Fusarium head blight Forum, 10–12 November 1997 (pp 46–47 ) St. Paul, MN, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesterhazy A, Bartok T, Mirocha CG and Komoroczy R (1999) Nature of wheat resistance to Fusarium head blight and the role of deoxynivalenol for breeding. Plant Breeding 118: 97–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miedaner T (1997) Breeding wheat and rye for resistance to Fusarium diseases. Plant Breeding 116: 201–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miedaner T, Reinbrecht C, Lauber U, Schollenberger M and Geiger HH (2001) Effects of genotype and genotype-environment interaction on deoxynivalenol accumulation and resistance to Fusarium head blight in rye, triticale and wheat. Plant Breeding 120: 97–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JD (1994) Epidemiology of Fusarium diseases of cereals. In: Miller JD and Trenholm HL (eds) Mycotoxins in Grain: Compounds other than Aflatoxins (pp 19–36 ) Eagon Press, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JD (2001) Factors that affect the occurrence of fumonisin. Environmental Health Perspectives 109: 321–324

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JD, Savard ME, Schaafsma AW, Seifert KA and Reid LM (1995) Mycotoxin production by Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum from Ontario and occurrence of fumonisin in the 1993 corn crop. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 17: 233–239

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moliszewska E and Pisarek I (1996) Influence of humic substances on the growth of two phytopathogenic soil fungi. Environment International 22: 579–584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Odiemah M and Manninger I (1994) Inheritance of resistance to Fusarium ear rot in maize. Acta Phytopathological Academiae Scientarum Hungaricae 17: 91–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Ono EY, Sugiura Y, Homechin M, Kamogac M, Vizzoni E, Ueno Y and Hirooka EY (1999) Effect of climatic conditions on natural mycoflora and fumonisins in freshly harvested corn of the state of Paran´a Brazil. Mycopathologia 147: 139–148

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orsi RB, Corrêa B, Possi CR, Schammass EA, Nogueira JR, Dias SMC and Malozzi MAB (2000) Mycoflora and occurrence of fumonisins in freshly harvested and stored hybrid maize. Journal of Stored Products Research 36: 75–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parry DW, Jenkinson P andMcLeod L (1995) Fusarium ear blight (scab) in small-grain cereals–a review. Plant Pathology 44: 207–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parry DW, Pettitt TR, Jenkinson P and Lees AK (1994) The cereal Fusarium complex. In: Blakeman P and Willamson B (eds) Ecology of Plant Pathogens (pp 301–320 ) CAB International, Wallingford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulitz TC (1996) Diurnal release of ascospores by Gibberella zeae in inoculated wheat plots. Plant Disease 80: 674–678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulitz TC and Seaman WL (1994) Temporal analysis of ascospore release by Gibberella zeae in artificially inoculated field plots of wheat. Phytopathology 84: 1070–1071

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettitt TR, Parry DW and Polley RW (1996) Effect of temperature on the incidence of nodal foot rot symptoms in winter wheat crops in England and Wales caused by Fusarium culmorum and Microdochium nivale. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 79: 233–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Placinta CM, D’ Mello JPF and Macdonald AMC (1999) A review of worldwide contamination of cereal grains and animal feed with Fusarium mycotoxins. Animal Feed Science and Technology 78: 21–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pomeranz Y, Bechter DB, Sauer DB and Seitz LM (1990) Fusarium headblight (scab) in cereal grains. Advances in Cereal Science and Technology 10: 373–433

    Google Scholar 

  • Pugh GW, Johann H and Dickson JG (1933) Factors affecting infection of wheat heads by Gibberella saubinetii. Journal of Agricultural Research 46: 771–797

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabie CJ, Sydenham EW, Thiel PG, L¨ubben A and Marasas WF (1986) T-2 toxin production by Fusarium acuminatum isolated from oats and barley. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 52: 594–596

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, LM, Hamilton RI and Mather DE (1995) Effect of macroconidial suspension volume and concentration on expression of

    Google Scholar 

  • resistance to Fusarium graminearum in maize. Plant Disease 79: 461–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid LM, Woldemariam T, Zhu X, Stewart DW and Schaafsma AW (2002) Effect of inoculation time and point of entry on disease severity in Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium verticillioides, or Fusarium subglutinans inoculated maize ears. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 24: 162–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi V, Languasco L, Pattori E and Giosue S (2002) Dynamics of airborne Fusarium macroconidia in wheat fields naturally affected by head blight. Journal of Plant Pathology 84: 53–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryu D and Bullerman LB (1999) Effect of cycling temperatures on the production of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone by Fusarium graminearum NRRL 5883. Journal of Food Protection 62: 1451–1455

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saremi H, Burgess LW and Backhouse D (1999) Temperature effects on the relative abundance of Fusarium species in a model plant-soil ecosystem. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 31: 941–947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sch¨utt F (2001) Moniliformin production of Fusarium species under defined conditions. Ph.D. Thesis, Technical University of Berlin, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Sung J-M and Cook RJ (1981) Effect of water potential on reproduction and spore germination by Fusarium roseum ‘Graminearum’, ‘Culmorum’ and ‘Avenaceum’. Phytopathology 71: 499–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutton JC (1982) Epidemiology of wheat head blight and maize ear rot caused by Fusarium graminearum. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 4: 195–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tekauz A, McCallum B and Gilbert J (2000) Review: Fusarium head blight of barley in western Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 22: 9–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres AM, Reynoso MM, Rojo FG, Ramirez ML and Chilze SN (2001) Fusarium species (section Liseola) and its mycotoxins in maize harvested in northern Argentina. Food additives and Contaminants 18: 836–843

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tschanz AT, Horst RK and Nelson PE (1976) The effect of environment on sexual reproduction of Gibberella zeae. Mycologia 68: 327–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velluti A, Mar´ın S, Bettucci L, Ramos AJ and Sanchis V (2000) The effect of fungal competition on colonisation of maize grain by Fusarium moniliforme, F. proliferatum and F. graminearum and on fumonisin B1 and zearalenone formation. International Journal of Food Microbiology 59: 59–66

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vigier B, Reid LM, Seifert KA, Stewart DW and Hamilton RI (1997) Distribution and prediction of Fusarium species associated with maize ear rot in Ontario. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 19: 60–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winder RS (1999) The influence of substrate and temperature on the sporulation of Fusarium avenaceum and its virulence on marsh reed grass. Mycological Research 103: 1145–1151

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Resource Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    F. M. Doohan, J. Brennan & B. M. Cooke

Authors
  1. F. M. Doohan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Brennan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. M. Cooke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Xiangming Xu John A. Bailey B. Michael Cooke

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Doohan, F.M., Brennan, J., Cooke, B.M. (2003). Influence of climatic factors on Fusarium species pathogenic to cereals. In: Xu, X., Bailey, J.A., Cooke, B.M. (eds) Epidemiology of Mycotoxin Producing Fungi. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1452-5_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1452-5_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6387-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1452-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation