Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Fusarium Comparative Project

Fusarium is a large genus of filamentous fungi widely distributed in soil and in association with plants. The Fusarium wilt fungus infects plants through the rootlets, invading the xylem and eventually extending throughout the plant. Limit the spread of infested soil by cleaning farm equipment. Avoid root knot nematode infestations because nematode feeding can overcome the plant resistance to Fusarium wilt. Rotation out of tomatoes for several years reduces inoculum level, although Fusarium is long-lived. To the highest degree species are harmless saprobes and are relatively abundant members of the soil microbial community. Individual branches and associated leaves on plants infected with Fusarium become yellow and wilt. Race 1 is widespread; Race 2 is common in the Sacramento Valley and in the northern San Joaquin Valley; and Race 3 is in the Sacramento Valley and spreading into the San Joaquin Valley.
Fusarium head blight has occurred in eastern Canada and the United States for many years. Losses from FHB in eastern Canada date to at least the early 1940's.
The genus Fusarium collectively represents the most important group of fungal plant pathogens, causing various diseases on nearly every economically important plant species.
Some species produce mycotoxins in cereal grazes that give notice impress human and animal health if they enter the food chain. Sometimes only one branch or one side of the plant is affected, creating a yellow flag effect. The main toxins produced by these Fusarium species are fumonisins and trichothecenes.  Infected plants usually die. A dark brown vascular discoloration extends far up the stem. Symptoms often first appear during fruit sizing.

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