Fusarium Head Blight Amendment Act, 2014: Bill 201 Vikram Bisht, Ph.D. Plant Pathologist MB Agriculture Food & Rural Development vikram.bisht@gov.mb.ca
FHB Impacts the Bottom Line Loss of yield Reduced quality of grain : FDK Mycotoxins : DON and other toxins
FHB Host Range Grass family: Wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, corn, canary seed, forage grasses, grassy weeds. Corn (stalk rot & ear rot) Pulses root infection in field pea, lentil Field pea acres significant in AB Oilseed root infection possible in lab studies not important 1. Chongo, Gossen. Turkington et.al. AAFC 2001 2. Zhang, Xue, Tambong 2009. AAFC
FHB Pathogens Fusarium graminearum F. culmorum F. avenaceum F. crookwellense CGC F. graminearum Considered the most aggressive Produces asexual conidia and Also, has a sexual stage G. zeae Most prevalent in the prairies Moving westward Ascus Perithecia
Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) Spreading west ward Predominate in black soil zones with highest precipitation 1994 2007 Source: Canadian Grain Commission
Fusarium Head Blight Sources of inoculum Crop residue with FHB infection Soil survival structures of Fus Spores from Long Distances Alternate hosts Infected Seed long distance movement of disease
Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) Present in many areas of North America Manitoba, SE Saskatchewan, NW Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC (CGC 2010) Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes Northern Mid-West USA Alberta: Wheat under irrigation Field pea a rotation crop Grassy weeds
http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/str-rst/fusarium/fhbmc-feccg-en.htm#westcharts Canada Western Soft White Spring
20/20 Seed Labs 2014 % of samples tested
Role of weather patterns Inoculum present in wide geographical areas Long distance dispersal of spores in atmosphere (Aerobiology of F.g.: Bergstrom & Schmale labs) possible spore dispersal to Alberta from the south & west Need high moisture & warmth for FHB Changing weather pattern may be bringing moisture at the right time for infection Weather history of AB last 10 years
Growing Season Monthly Precipitation (Relative to Long Term Normal) 2000 2008 2006 2002 2004 2014 http://agriculture.alberta.ca/acis/climate-maps.jsp
Long Distance Atmospheric Spore Transport The long-distance transport primarily in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) of the atmosphere - 50 m to nearly 1 km above the surface of the earth. Relative abundance of viable Giberella zeae spores Significant long-distance transport would suggest that management of inoculum in individual fields would have little or no regional impact unless performed over extensive production areas. Sandra Maldonado-Ramirez,David. Schmale,E J. Shields, Gary Bergstrom, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Volume 132, Issues 1 2, 20 September 2005, Pages 20 27
FHB Forecasting De Wolf model FHB1 used currently Duration (h) that Temperature (T) is between 15 and 30 C over the 7 days prior to flowering Duration (hrs) of measurable Rainfall in that same period Integration of FHB risk forecasts with timing of fungicides (when necessary) Run from >180 stations in MB Limitation? - does not track RH
This stage is critical for FHB infection 1. Rainfall 2. Warm air temperatures 3. Inoculum in the area If conditions are right Spore are present But flowering is over NO FHB
FHB Risk Forecast Maps http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/fhb/index.html The map shows the current risk for the development of Fusarium head blight based on the previous 7 days of temperature and moisture. When evaluating risk, it is very important to monitor the crop stage. Infection can occur if the crop is at or near the flowering stage.
Seed standards for FHB Manitoba Alberta Not regulated pest Visual grading < = 0.5% acceptable by seed companies Tolerance may depend on quantity and quality of seed available Regulated Pest Lab testing for F. gr. Zero tolerance for detectable FHB infected seed
Principles of Pest Management AVOIDANCE Geographical, timing of planting to avoid susceptible stage, PROTECTION Chemical, Pest resistant cultivars ERADICATION after infection or arrival in an area but before it is well established Chemical, Physically remove Therapy e.g. thermo-therapy, solarization
Principles of Pest Management EXCLUSION of pest from entering an area By barriers e.g. Greenhouse By regulation (Pest Act FHB Alberta) just delays entry; but provides time to develop management measures Effective against pest which have limited modes of movement and are not wide spread
Regulation of Pests (Pest Act) Effective for pests Mode of survival limited, mainly soil borne Mode of dissemination limited, seed-borne, but air-borne not main method Distribution not widely prevalent Host range limited Practicality of management PCN /Wart - limited distribution SCN now wide distribution US, dereg by CFIA
FHB and Alberta Widely distributed all around Alberta BC, SK, MB, Many US states Not a regulated pest in any of these neighbouring regions Pest movement Seed Air borne Wide host range
Support Amendment with comments Proposed amendment FHB = F graminearum & other species Certified seed 0.5 % tolerance for F.gr. in a seed lot method of testing 0.5 % FHB / F.gr. in any plant, crop, vegetation or other matter? this may need other standards or clarification - % FHB infection of wheat heads will not equal % FHB in a seed lot.
FHB can be managed by IPM Crop Rotation Crop type, Variety, resistance Seed: Certified (with low FHB), Seed treatment Cultural: Residue management Seeding Date, Rate, Depth Scouting Foliar Fungicide timing flowering critical time Watch for FHB risk maps Harvesting chaff & light seed removal
Thank you for the opportunity to present my view Vikram.Bisht@gov.mb.ca (204) 745-0260