Fusarium species associated with wheat in Victoria

Abstract

Wheat roots and seeds were examined for Fusarium species during surveys in 1970 and 1971. Fusarium spp. were commonly isolated from root lesions, especially those on older plants, but seldom from seed. However, frequency of isolation from seed was increased by using a selective medium containing pentachloro-nitrobenaene. Fourteen species, including eleven not previously recorded on wheat in Victoria, were identified, Previously recorded species were: F. culmorum, F. equiseti and F. graminearum. Previously unrecorded species were : F. arthrosporioides, F. avenaceum, F. camptoceras, F. chlamydosporum, F. concolor, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. sambucinum var. coeruleum, F. semitectum, F. sporotrichioides and F. trichothecioides. The commonest were the weakly pathogenic species F. avenaceum, F. equseti and F. oxysporum. The strongly pathogenic species F. graminearum, was seldo isolated and the other strongly pathogenic species, F. culmorum, was common only in the Southern cereal district.