Abstract Detail

Biological Control of diseases and weeds (CFBC)

Xue, Allen [1], Chen, Yuanhong [2], Voldeng, Harvey [2], Fedak, George [2], Laenge, Tobias [3], Zhang, Jinxiu [4].

Effect of ACM941 biofungicide on prevention and control of fusarium head blight in wheat.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum (teleomorph: Gibberella zeae), is a destructive disease of wheat in Canada. Resistant cultivars are not commercially available and current management of FHB relies mainly on fungicides to sustain the productivity and quality of grains. A novel fungal strain of Clonostachys rosea, ACM941, that was isolated from a field pea plant and patented as a mycoparasite against plant pathogens in the 1990s, was evaluated in a series of greenhouse experiments and field trials for the biocontrol of FHB of wheat in Canada. The research demonstrated that at concentrations above 10⁶ cfu mL^–1, the biofungicide provided consistent and significant effects, with disease suppression generally equivalent to that achieved with the fungicide tebuconazole when applied as a foliar spray. Effects were most pronounced in combination with moderately resistant cultivars. When applied to crop residues, ACM941 was equally or more effective than the fungicide at reducing the production of perithecia, fruiting bodies of G. zeae that form in crop residues and produce ascospores, which are the initial source of inoculum and responsible for generating epidemics in Canada. The impact was achieved whether it was applied before or after the substrate was infected with the pathogen, and when applied either in autumn or spring in field trials. ACM941 was similarly effective in reducing inoculum levels in maize and soybean residues as well, indicating that it could be applied effectively to residues of preceding crops in a rotation to provide pre-planting protection of a wheat crop. ACM941 is in the process of being registered as a biofugicide in both Canada and the United States and will be commercialized by Adjuvants Plus Inc., a Canadian biopesticide company in Ontario. The use of ACM941 biofungicide as an additional measure for an integrated FHB management strategy and as an effective alternative to the chemical fungicides will be discussed.

1 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
2 - Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
3 - Pest Management Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, K1A 0C6, Canada
4 - Pest Management Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada

Keywords:
biocontrol
fusarium head blight
Chonostachys rosea
wheat.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 75
Location: Salon 2/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2015
Time: 5:15 PM
Number: 75007
Abstract ID:181
Candidate for Awards:None