91Pro

Abstract

The aim of this research is to study the life-cycle and pathogenicity of Fusarium langsethiae to UK wheat, barley and oat.

Description

T-2 and HT-2 are considered as two of the most potent mycotoxins worldwide. The European commission is due to consider legislation for these two mycotoxins. Fusarium langsethiae has recently been identified as the fungal species responsible for high T-2 and HT-2 in oats in the UK, however, very little is known about this species. This research seeks to generate novel information on the pathogenicity and life cycle of F .langsethiae to aid the development of control strategies to minimize T-2 and HT-2 content in cereals.

To study the life-cycle and pathogenicity of F. langsethiae, effective inoculation methods will be developed and applied in glasshouse and field experiments to assess disease and symptom development on wheat, barley and oat. Commercial cereal crops will be monitored for three growing seasons. Identifying when and where F. langsethiae can be detected within cereal rotations over the three growing seasons will help identify the source of inoculum and how the pathogen is transmitted between cereal crops. The presence of F. langsethiae and HT-2+T-2 will be monitored in crop debris, weeds and cereal crops at various growth stages using species-specific quantitative PCR and ELISA assays.