Incidence of Fusarium head blight on wheat in ecological and conventional crop production

Abstract

Fusarium head blight occurrence was evaluated in ecological (Ďulov Dvor) and conventional (Veľké Úľany) crop production in Slovakia. The study was realized at the end of flowering stage – BBCH 69 of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) in 2011 and 2012 years. 100 heads per crop of winter wheat were evaluated for FHB symptoms in three replications at each locality. The occurrence and severity of FHB was the highest in Ďulov Dvor every year, which corresponds to relatively high FHB index – 5.95 % (2011) and 12 % (2012). The lower FHB index (4.59 %) was recorded in Veľké Úľany in 2011. There were any symptoms of FHB in Veľké Úľany in 2012. Higher value of FHB index in Ďulov Dvor confirmed that the highest incidence and severity of FHB was in ecological crop production. Analysis of variance confirmed statistical difference occurrence of FHB between localities. The amount of rainfall was the main factor which influenced the lowest occurrence of FHB in Veľké Úľany in each year. The low rainfall correlates with low FHB index in Veľké Úľany. Conversely, the high amount of rainfall was related with high value of FHB index in Ďulov Dvor. Our results demonstrate that Fusarium head blight severity depends mainly on weather conditions. However, in years with average or high levels of disease, cropping system affects disease severity. These results showed for high incidence and severity FHB in ecological crop production.