As soon as it hatches, the tender and translucent root rushes to where it will spend its whole life - down into the fertile thickness of the soil layer ...

And there is the enemy. One of the worst phytotrophs is waiting for prey, invisible and inaudible. He spread the hyphae like trapping nets, scattered the poisoned bait of spores. Lurking here and there are well-protected capsules, ready at the slightest touch to throw out a destructive "landing". Fusarium, omnipresent and all-pervading, able to wait for years, never misses its chance. He is the culprit fusarium, a disease that mows down entire fields.

Fusarium - who is it? omnivorous family

[!] Saprophytes are fungi or bacteria that live off the remains of dead organisms. Symbionts are fungi or bacteria that live off living organisms.

List them all? Not only this article, but also a multi-volume book will not be enough. The top three included only those who particularly “distinguished themselves” in a field that was by no means noble. Simply put, the most harmful.

(F. graminearum), feeding on the tissues of the host plant, "in gratitude" saturates them with poisonous secretions. "Drunken bread" ... a harmless-looking name means deadly dangerous syndrome- alimentary-toxic aleukia (ATA). In the forties of the last century, thousands of people fell victim to the fungus, mainly residents of the Urals and the Volga region.

Healthy (left) and fusarium-affected spike. Fusarium cereal under the microscope

(F. nivale). Micronectriella snow. No mushroom has ever caused as many tears as this one. Spring, the snow melts in the fields... Not at all: winter crops remain under a white blanket. More precisely, under the shroud. Because it's not snow at all. Farewell, hope for the harvest ...

(Fusarium solani) and its genetic counterpart Nectria haematococca. Contrary to the name, it is not limited to potatoes. In the sphere of his "interests" are all nightshades, legumes and pumpkin. And that's not all: on the "conscience" of the fungus outbreaks of tree cancer, reaching the scale of epiphytosis.

A plant affected by potato Fusarium (left) and a healthy specimen. Fusarium potato under a microscope

From fusarium suffers losses not only agriculture. The omnivorous family is able to ruin a forest nursery and a garden center, let the owners of vegetable greenhouses and flower greenhouses go around the world. Of course, if they are careless.

Like a true mafia, the Fusarium never goes into business alone. For example, Fusarium graminearum is always accompanied by "cousins" - F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. poae, F. sporotrichioides and others. Hematococcus Nektria acquired an equally magnificent retinue: Fusarium heterosporium, F. ubglutinans and F. verticilliodes, Fusarium oxysporum ... And again, the ubiquitous F. graminearum, which for the sake of this occasion took the form of corn gibberella (Gibberella zeae).

The attentive reader will ask: what does Nectria, Gibberella and Micronectriella have to do with it? Mushrooms of this genus have two life forms, sexual (teleomorph) and asexual (anamorph). Their physiology differs, however, in fact they are one and the same.

So: the asexual form is the Fusarium. And nectria, gibberella, micronectriella and others are its second, highest hypostasis.

Fusarium - signs

Summer day in the garden is full of life. You can directly hear how everything around is growing, blooming, gaining ripeness ... But the keen master's eye notices: the tops of one of the plants do not look very good. Yes, and others, next to him, became discouraged ... Water, urgently! But the leaves behave somehow strange: instead of cracking down, they droop and are completely hopeless.

A beginner usually makes a lot of unnecessary gestures: he waters again, already more generously; loosens the soil, shade, even fertilizes just in case. Finally, he decides to spray from insects: so what if they are not visible, they probably hid ... This is usually where it all ends. The plant is sent to the compost heap (again, an error, why, we will explain below).

An experienced grower will not waste a minute. Anyone who already has some experience with Fusarium will cut off the affected shoot and examine the cut. Preferably under a magnifying glass, even better if you have a microscope. However, the characteristic dark ring is visible to the naked eye. These are vessels clogged with fungal hyphae.

“Ah, you are… wilt!!” the agronomist swears. And send the plant to the laboratory. For the disease, whose name comes from the English wilt, that is, “wither”, is generated not only by the Fusarium.

Withering. In our country, this term is most often accompanied by the word "verticillium". Foreign phytopathologists, having found hyphae inside the vessels, make a general disappointing diagnosis: wilt. Synonym: tracheomycosis. For a single representative of the flora, this sounds like a sentence. For the treatment of wilt is not subject to. And it doesn’t matter if it is of Fusarium origin or Verticillium. The drooping shoots say: late.

Fusarium affects plants of any age. If these are seedlings or seedlings, then we are talking about the so-called black leg. There, it doesn’t come to wilting - a fresh-looking shoot falls overnight, with a characteristic constriction in the region of the root collar. But an older plant is still able to resist. Not for long, however - from several days to a month or two, depending on the size and species.

Since the Fusarium lives in the soil, the attack always starts from below. For some time, nothing is noticeable, because an adult has a lot of vessels, and their walls are quite strong. The fungus gradually moves up to the young tissues, supporting the forces with plant juices. The incubation period can take up to thirty days. Growing, hyphae seal the vessels completely. Moisture does not go up, photosynthesis products go down. All, " circulatory system' is no longer functional.

Sooner or later, under the pressure of the mycelium, the walls of the vessels burst, and the fruiting bodies come out into the air. But this is the final stage of Fusarium, when the plant is actually dead.

So, the signs of Fusarium wilt, as the infection develops:

• chlorosis and watery areas on the leaves;
• loss of turgor;
• dark ring, clearly marked on the cut;
• darkening, when viewed through the light, of the vascular network of the sheet;
• drying and dying off of the aerial part;
• the appearance, usually in the region of the root collar or in shaded areas, of whitish plaque, and more often reddish mold, that is, sporulation of the fungus.

The sequence described above is not always followed. Even a venerable phytopathologist who has devoted half his life to the study of Fusarium and the fight against it, will not assert anything without laboratory tests.

However, the most important visual inspection will give: confidence that he attacked protozoan mushroom. Which one is not so important. Because most modern fungicides have, let's say, a wide "field of fire". That is, they are universal or almost universal.

root rot

In fairness, first you would need to describe the "roots", and then the "tops". The appearance of Fusarium in the aerial part of the plant is preceded by a long and methodical work on the destruction of the root system. A fungus is an inhabitant of the soil, and in this environment it feels more confident than anywhere else. If the situation at the top does not suit him with something (for example, an abundance of sunlight or good ventilation), then he will remain underground. Good food in abundance.

Plant roots not only draw moisture from the soil, but also release their own substances. It is on them that the threads of the mycelium react. And they attack. Breaking resistance is not difficult. Yes and no, where from? After all, the root cap is probably the most delicate and unprotected organ of the plant. Having broken through, with the help of enzymes, a barrier only one cell thick, the Fusarium settles inside. It is arranged in a businesslike way, thoroughly growing into the walls. Eats, adds on everything ready. Along the way, it slowly but surely poisons the host, throwing mycotoxin poison into his body.

He does not appreciate "housing", he does not appreciate it at all. However, what is the point of the Fusarium to save the life of its carrier? The fungus assimilates much better the organic matter that is on initial stage decomposition.

A serious source of Fusarium are stored tubers, bulbs, root crops. A little less often - fruits and seeds. The names correspond to the nature of the lesion: dry rot of potatoes, red rot of bulbous, or clamp rot. For those who do not know, kagaty are industrial storage cellars, huge in area. That is, a place where, if overlooked, the fungus "unbelts" with might and main, nullifying the work of vegetable growers. The home underground, of course, does not reach the kagat. So what, the Fusarium will not disdain, will pay a visit there as well.

Risk group

The most famous victims of Fusarium are crops. AT middle lane wheat, rye, barley, soybeans, peas, sunflower and others suffer. More heat-loving, such as cotton, melons, rice and corn, are not ignored. Greenhouse farms, and even ordinary summer residents, may lose crops of tomatoes and cucumbers because of this misfortune. Signs of tracheomycosis wilt can appear on radishes, peppers, and eggplants. Cabbage also suffers. An adult is less common, but its seedlings are extremely susceptible to "", which, in fact, is the same Fusarium. Asters, dahlias, carnations, petunias will not remain intact, clematis and roses will fall.

Forest nurseries are losing hectares of seedlings. In dense ridges, Fusarium spreads at the speed of a steppe fire.

Plants living in apartments did not escape the fate of "street" counterparts. Fusarium on indoor flowers, sorry for the tautology, is flourishing. He is always ready to spoil the mood by eating a collection of orchids and eating his favorite begonia. The Fusarium menu includes fuchsia, balsam, azalea, pelargonium, indoor and garden chrysanthemum, cyclamen ...

It’s easier to say which cultures do NOT get sick with fusarium.

Zinnia, gypsophila, periwinkle, mallow, ferns, ageratum, primrose and philodendron are invulnerable to him. Among indoor plants, only saintpaulia can resist, and from vegetables - asparagus ().

The risk is increased in acidic soils, especially with excessive moisture. Clay and heavy loam Fusarium does not favor, prefers that it is easier, that is, sandy loam. It almost never occurs in leached soils, except in the form of single spores.

Conditions for the development of fusarium

Until the middle of the last century, there was an opinion that Fusarium is dangerous only in greenhouses. Or in the south, where in summer daytime temperatures are kept within 25 - 28 degrees. Alas, over time, the pathogen moved deep to the north, and continues its march.

It is impossible to unequivocally state, they say: fusarium develops under the conditions of such and such. For the fungus itself, a combination of heat and high humidity. Plus, the presence of air in the soil, because the Fusarium is an aerobic organism, it also needs oxygen.

However, for many plants, the same conditions are optimal, therefore, their resistance is higher. Yes, the Fusarium does not come out the winner every time. Otherwise, only mushrooms would have remained on the globe ... a sad picture.

[!] General pattern: an outbreak of infection is provoked by the conditions that allow the Fusarium to develop, and at the same time inhibit the plants.

If there is stale air in the room, crowded plants, high humidity, and in containers there is old soil and, plus, the lack of drainage - signs of fusarium will almost certainly appear.

Fusarium control

First of all, all contaminated soil must be changed. The one that will take its place should be etched with Trichodermin in advance. Instead, you can use: Fitosporin-M, Trichofit, Fitolavin, Gliocladin, Gamair, Previkur, Agat-25K, Alirin-B and others.

[!] Don't let the word "pickle" scare you: these biological preparations are completely safe. After their application, berries, fruits and vegetables are permissible to eat.

Caution is required by Bordeaux liquid, Vectra, Vitaros, Quadris, Skor, Maxim, Topaz, Oksihom, Bravo, Raek, Diskor and other fungicides of a chemical nature. But in advanced cases, when delicate biofungicides are powerless, they are needed. Instructions to help, children and pets - to another room, gloves on hands and go. Yes, do not forget about the respirator.

Boxes, pots, flowerpots and other containers must be disinfected. Wash well with soap and treat with bleach. Also sterilize the instrument.

The plant that has already fallen ill cannot be saved in ninety cases out of a hundred. In the remaining ten, they proceed as follows: cut off the stalk, see if the cut is clean. If dark, cut higher. And so on to healthy tissue. The cutting is soaked in a solution of one of the preparations (Fitosporin-M, Trichodermin, Maxim) and then rooted in calcined sand using biostimulants (Zircon, Kornevin and the like).

This way you can save phalaenopsis, azalea, and any home plant that the owner values ​​\u200b\u200band which is able to propagate by cuttings.

Fusarium prevention

Preventive measures are the alpha and omega of the fight against all fungal infections, including Fusarium. So:

1. Compliance with agricultural practices. Strong, healthy plants do not get sick with Fusarium.
2. Disinfection of soil, containers, tools and other garden props.
3. Destruction of diseased plants. Burn! Putting them in the compost heap makes it one big reservoir of Fusarium.
4. Acidified soils are neutralized by liming. A good option is ash or dolomite flour.
5. Don't stress the plants. This can be caused by a sharp change in conditions, shaking, movement, and in particular, rotation relative to the cardinal points.
6. Fusarium travels, "saddling" aphids, spider mites, whiteflies and other phytophages. Therefore, in the foreground is the fight against peddler insects.
7. Use of fusarium-resistant varieties. Almost every culture has these today.

By observing these, in general, simple rules, you can never meet Fusarium at all.

Fusarium wheat (signs and treatment)

Fusarium of wheat is an infectious disease. The causative agent of Fusarium is a fungus of the genus Fusarium. This fungus infects wheat during flowering, when the plant is most vulnerable. Flowering wheat lasts only 1-2 days. In rainy weather, the flowering period increases, which means that the risk of infection also increases. This time is enough to destroy the entire crop.

Fusarium signs

Fusarium is a dry rot of a plant. The main signs of wheat fusarium are as follows:

1. Spikelet scales acquire a dark color, become more oily with signs of sporulation. Depending on the region and climatic conditions foci of sporulation have various shades of pink and red.

2. The top or ear is completely covered with a coating of harmful spores.

3. Leaf sheaths and stem nodes contain spore-bearing pads.

4. The grain is covered with white mycelium (mycelium).

Infection of wheat with fusarium occurs during flowering, however, signs of fusarium are detected only at the time of grain ripening. Mycelium is able to hit the grain not much, penetrating only into the seed coat, or quite seriously, damaging the deep layer. In this case, the process of protein decomposition occurs in the grain.

Wheat grains affected by Fusarium have distinctive features:

1. The grains become colorless, sometimes with a pink tint and a dull surface;

2. The surface is wrinkled, with a noticeable deposit of mycelium in the groove;

3. The seed becomes brittle, vitreousness decreases, the embryo dies, which can be seen as a dark dot on the cut.

Causes of infection

1. Sowing wheat without predecessors;

2. Poor cleaning of the field;

3. Poor tillage;

4. Infected seed, no seed treatment before sowing.

I would like to note right away that the infected seeds cannot sprout, respectively, if the seeds sprout, and then fusarium foci appear on the field, this indicates that at the time of sowing, the germinated seeds were completely healthy and became infected later.

Seeds infected with Fusarium and not germinating are dangerous because they can contribute to the spread of spores. Therefore, the only correct solution, and everyone should remember this, is the mandatory treatment of seed with multicomponent fungicides before sowing. This will prevent the development of spores (if any) in the seeds, and protect the seeds when sown from Fusarium in the ground.

The most common causes of Fusarium infection in wheat are:

1. Selection of a wheat variety without considering the predecessor;

2. Poor field harvesting and shallow tillage;

The above reasons contribute to the development of Fusarium in the soil itself.

When sowing wheat, it is necessary to look at which predecessor is being sown. For example, if you previously grew corn, in no case do we recommend sowing wheat next: Bagrat, Vassa, Grom, Yubileinaya 100, Dmitry. It is allowed to sow corn varieties of wheat: Swan, Bezostaya 100, Esaul, Sila, Tanya, Yuka, Urup. They are more resistant to Fusarium, however, among them there are no varieties that are absolutely not susceptible to the fungus. Therefore, wheat still requires preventive treatment.

Most often, poor field cleaning and surface tillage contributes to the preservation and spread of mycelial spores. The All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection published data: when plowing the soil with the turnover of the layer, the infection of the soil with Fusarium was 15%, while with surface treatment, the infection with Fusarium was almost 49%.

Due to the fact that Fusarium mycelium spores comfortably endure the winter on plant residues, after harvesting the field must be cleared and the plant residues plowed. So the causative agents of Fusarium will die in 3-5 weeks, which means that the risk of infection of crops will decrease.

Fusarium control methods

To avoid buying low-quality seeds, by choosing a supplier, you can request from him not only certificates for wheat, but also seeds for testing. Then you can take them to the laboratory for testing for the presence of pathogens on the seed material. Of course, the analysis will be paid, but you will definitely be sure of the quality of the seed. After testing and making sure that the seed is clean, do not forget that the main source of infection is the soil itself, not the seeds, and buying clean, healthy wheat will not protect crops from infection during flowering. Fusarium, like a fungal disease, begins to spread precisely in the soil, and then with the help of the wind, spores begin to spread throughout the field.

According to GOST, wheat seeds are sold in pure form without the use of chemicals. processing. Therefore, when buying new seeds, it is necessary to treat them with fungicides before sowing. You can do this either on your own, or, if you take the seeds directly from the manufacturer, order an additional dressing. Thus, you will prevent the reproduction of spores, if, nevertheless, among the seeds there are samples with signs of Fusarium, and also protect the wheat from infection in the affected land.

We must not forget that seed dressing is only the first stage of protection. During the growing season, it is necessary to repeatedly spray wheat (at least 2-3 times) until the spike blooms, because. Fusarium spores are carried across the field by the wind. And during flowering, when the ear is as susceptible as possible, they infect it.

The most important thing in the treatment of fungicides is to choose the most suitable preparation. The use of fungicides on winter wheat makes it possible to further preserve the green surface of the leaves, and most importantly, it helps to keep the wheat flag leaf in a functioning state during the grain filling period.

You can increase the effectiveness of fungicides with the help of biological products. However, it is not worth replacing them completely, because. the impact force of biological products is still lower than that of fungicides, which means that the risk of field infection and crop loss increases, and the ecological purity of the product becomes doubtful.

If, nevertheless, fusarium could not be prevented and for some reason foci of fusarium appeared on wheat fields, unfortunately, any struggle will be unsuccessful. In this case, harvesting should be done separately, and on the basis of a random (average) sample, identify the percentage of Fusarium in each batch. In accordance with GOST and Technical Regulations Customs Union TR TS 015 "On the safety of grain" for food purposes, wheat grain with a Fusarium content of 1% is accepted. For cereals and flour production, it is allowed to use grains of strong wheat with a content of fusarium grains up to 0.6%, the rest of the wheat may contain infected grains up to 0.3%. To comply with sanitary standards, before processing grain, in which the content of fusarium grains is up to 1%, it is required to reduce the concentration of fusarium grains in the total mass to the permitted level by adding healthy grain not infected with fusarium.

Grain infected with fusariosis over 1%, but not more than 10%, is used for fodder purposes for the production of feed and feed mixtures. With fusarium over 10%, wheat is sent for destruction.

Conclusion

Fusarium is a disease of a plant, the source of which is most often the soil. It is easier to prevent than to neutralize. This will require preventive actions before sowing in the form of seed treatment to prevent the development and spread of spores. It is also necessary to prepare and process sown areas, remove plant residues from the previous harvest. After sowing, wheat should be treated with fungicides at least 2-3 times until the wheat blooms. And, of course, the fact of choosing the right wheat variety, the most suitable for its predecessor, is not unimportant. Having fulfilled all these conditions, you can fully count on a good harvest, and therefore a good profit.

Plant diseases, as well as human diseases, have various ways transmission

It is quite possible to protect oneself from some of them, for example, by avoiding contact with an infected object or by moving away from the territory of infection. But there is a special way of transmission, which is almost impossible to defend against ...

Many of us have had chickenpox as children. Remember, not the most pleasant disease that can spread throughout the district with the speed of the wind - hence the name. It is almost impossible to avoid infection to an unprotected organism. Surprisingly, a similar disease exists in the plant world. Fusarium - this terrible infection scatters across the fields with every breath of wind, carrying the infection from ear to ear, from cob to cob and leaving a trail of death and defeat.

Fusarium head blight has been known in our country since the Russo-Turkish War, when an outbreak of a then unknown disease led to the death of the pets of the cavalry regiment, which was an indirect reason for the loss. AT modern Russia seriously about this infection started talking only at the beginning of the 21st century. Spread rate and damage dealt agriculture, turned out to be so great that even farmers, who had previously ignored plant protection products, willy-nilly turned towards chemicals. Epidemics of the disease are observed in most regions where wheat and rye are grown, especially in years when warm and humid weather conditions occur during the heading period of the crop. In Russia, Fusarium epiphytotics occur frequently (at least once in 2-3 years of vegetation) mainly in the North Caucasus, Far East, in the northwestern and central parts countries and the Urals. Yield losses during the development of infection can reach 20-50%. Moreover, the growth of fungi in affected grains leads to the accumulation of toxic metabolites (mycotoxins) that are hazardous to human and animal health. Absolutely all cereal crops are affected.

What is fusarium? The causative agent of the disease is a representative of the genus Fusarium, a common and dangerous fungus that can infect a plant at any age. The fungus penetrates the plant through the soil and wounds, causing rotting of the roots and root collar. In the affected areas, the tissues turn brown, the stem becomes thinner, the leaves turn yellow, and soon the plant dies. Fusarium of cereal crops, which occupies one of the leading places among cereal diseases in terms of harmfulness, has been studied quite well, since it is widespread throughout the country. However, methods effective fight not much with him. The danger of this infection is due to the many ways of transmission. The main sources of Fusarium: seeds, soil, plant residues of wheat, barley, corn, peas and weeds. Fungi are incredibly weather-resistant: they can overwinter on infected plant debris and seeds.

Outbreaks of the disease periodically appear in different regions of Russia: Kursk, Orel, Belgorod, Voronezh regions, Stavropol, Krasnodar Territory, Chechnya, Dagestan, Ossetia. And this is not a complete list.

In 2014, in the Stavropol Territory, a certain increase in the disease of winter grain crops with Fusarium ear blight was noted, especially where the introduction of various technologies for minimal soil cultivation, the violation of the crop rotation system and its oversaturation with cereal crops led to significant changes in the development and spread of the harmfulness of pathogenic organisms. The current year in the region was distinguished by an abundance of precipitation in a relatively warm climate, which contributed to the spread of fusariosis of the ear. Weather conditions comfortable for the infection during the flowering period (filling grain of winter spiked crops) favored the infection of plants, primarily in places where crops were previously affected by "snow mold" and root rot of Fusarium etiology. According to the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rosselkhoztsentr" Stavropol Territory, as of June 2014, 315 thousand hectares of winter crops or 18% of crops in 21 districts were affected in the region. The largest areas are affected in the 3rd zone - 151 thousand hectares (32% of crops), in Grachevsky - 40 thousand hectares, Trunovsky - 27 thousand hectares, Izobilnensky - 23 thousand hectares and in the Ipatovsky district - 123 thousand hectares. This is higher than the long-term average, but the spread of the disease in the fields in the whole region was low - from 1 to 5%. In order to avoid the spread of infection, regular monitoring of crops was carried out in the region for infection with ear diseases and, first of all, Fusarium in the phase of grain ripening. Measures have been taken for timely cleaning and separate storage of parties infected with Fusarium, if any. To date, 7.9 million tons of grain have already been harvested in the region. Checking the quality of grain showed a high percentage of food - 81%.

The situation in the Krasnodar Territory is not much different. AT current year an early manifestation of fusariosis of the ear on winter crops was noted. The phytosanitary condition of winter wheat and barley crops was aggravated by heavy rainfall. The spread and development of the disease continues, the harmfulness increases, especially in the foothill regions of the region. According to the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Rosselkhoztsentr in the Krasnodar Territory, the prevalence of infection on winter wheat was 2.5%, on winter barley - up to 9%, which exceeds the figures for previous years.

An example of the spread of Fusarium in two large regions of our country clearly demonstrates the seriousness and complexity of the situation. The mistake of most agronomists is in untimely response and the wrong choice of infection control methods. Ignorance, distrust of new technologies, inability to live "in step with the times" - as a result, ruined fields and millions in losses. But you can fight Fusarium. The main thing is to approach this issue comprehensively.

"Schelkovo Agrokhim" offers a new innovative approach to fight Fusarium and other common infections. CVS is a system for effective management of plant vegetation throughout the entire growth period. The system includes a number of measures that allow you to control the condition of plants at all stages of its growth: from soil cultivation to harvest.

What is CVS? Let me draw a clear analogy. Imagine a young but responsible couple planning to have a baby. What are they doing? Both spouses undergo a medical examination, take drugs to improve health before pregnancy. Further, during gestation, a woman reviews her diet, trying to make it more balanced and healthy, while taking vitamins. And after the birth of a child, all forces are rushed to maintain the health of the baby, observing the optimal diet of his diet. And all this is for the proper growth and development of a new, just emerging life. The same thing happens with plants grown according to CVS - the system for responsible farmers. CVS allows you to gradually control the growth and development of a plant and bring it to full maturity. Use of effective fungicides such as Benefit and Polaris in combination with an agrochemical Biostim Start will create the basis for the future harvest. Benefit and Polaris provide fast and deep penetration into the grain due to the innovative micro-imulsion preparative form, reliably protecting against helminthosporium-fusarium root rot and enhancing growth processes. Presowing treatment of winter wheat seeds with the preparation Biostim Start guarantees a high percentage of field germination. Seeds germinate a few days earlier and give friendly seedlings. The secondary root system is intensively formed, its active zone and water-absorbing capacity are significantly increased. Winter crops tolerate winter better and resume vegetation earlier. The tillering coefficient and the number of productive stems are significantly increased, as well as the number of grains in the spike and average weight grain, which leads to an increase in yield and improve the quality of grain. Fungicides Benazol and ZIM 500 protect against root and root rot in the autumn and early spring periods of vegetation and reduce the amount of the pathogen on carriers - plant debris; a Triad and Title Duo provide a long period of protective action and prevent a wide range of diseases of the leaf apparatus and ear.

At the stage of crop growth, micro- and organo-mineral fertilizers are used. Biostim Universal, Biostim Grain and Intermag Profi Grain that help the plant develop its own immunity through a balanced diet and protection from stress. Combination of drugs of series Intermag and Biostim will provide a higher utilization rate of mineral fertilizers and guarantee a cost-effective return on the costs incurred in cultivation technologies.

Also, the complex of preventive measures should include work to accelerate the decomposition of plant residues in the fields and reduce infection in the soil, thorough preparation of seed material, mandatory phytoexamination of seeds to identify the pathogen. In addition, it is recommended to rotate crops with a break of at least one year in the rotation and choose varieties tolerant to the disease for planting. A complex approach, promoted in CVS, will allow you not only to give life to a new crop, but also to take care of its healthy growth, full maturation and, as a result, a good harvest. Your profit is in your hands.

Mirzaalieva Nargiza

ZAO Schelkovo Agrokhim

Fusarium is a worldwide problem. Diseases resulting from the infection of various cereal crops by certain species of pathogenic fungi of the genus Fusarium are among the most serious and potentially devastating diseases throughout the world, and especially in the regions of the USA, Canada, Argentina, Australia and Europe, incl. Ukraine engaged in the cultivation of wheat. Since the beginning of the 1990s, there has been a sharp increase in the incidence of diseases caused by a pathogenic fungus of the genus Fusarium. The risk of infection has increased due to changes in cropping practices: for example, the increasing use of minimum tillage technology; an increase in the frequency of sowing grain crops in the crop rotation, as well as as a result of an increase in the area under corn. Infectious lesions caused by a pathogenic fungus of the genus Fusarium can occur at the base of the stem, on leaves and on ears. The greatest damage is caused if the pathogenic fungi Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum infect the ear. Since these pathogenic fungi produce mycotoxins, they can be a direct reason for limiting the use of contaminated grain for food and feed production. Mycotoxins are dangerous for humans and animals Fusarium spike leads to a decrease in the weight of a thousand grains and the number of grains per ear, and also reduces the viability of seeds. Yield losses can reach more than 50%. This disease also reduces the baking quality of flour and can adversely affect the brewing process when infected barley is used. However, an even more important factor is the ability of the pathogenic fungus Fusarium to produce mycotoxins, i.e. products of the metabolic processes of the fungus, which are toxic to humans and animals and can cause serious damage to the body, even in small concentrations. The most dangerous fusariotoxins, which are produced on cultivated cereal balls, are nivalenol, deoxyn-valenol - mainly on wheat, triticale and barley. Wheat, barley and rye are especially vulnerable. Typical symptom: discolouration of the ear Infection or re-infection with F. graminea rum and F. culmorum results in discolouration of the ear or a whole group of colossi. Brown-violet coloration is also often observed on the central axis of the ear. If the weather conditions are favorable for the development of the fungus, then at the base of the spike and at the edges of the spike scales, spore bodies are formed, the color of which ranges from orange-red to pink. Symptoms of the disease may differ, depending on which of the cereal crops is affected by this disease - wheat, triticale, oats, rye, spring or winter barley. Infection with conidia and ascospores. Pathogens, predominantly in the form of conidia and ascospores, overwinter in the fields on dead plant debris such as straw and stubble. Conidiospores can infect the ear after being sprayed from letter to letter up along the stem by raindrops, but wind-blown ascospores also play an important role in directly infecting the ear. Ascospores develop in fruiting bodies called perithecia. These fruiting bodies are formed on infected organic residues located on the soil surface. Over time, the perithecia mature and scatter ascospores. If cold and wet weather persists for a long time after spore release, an asymptomatic increase in the number of spores may occur. Because ascospores can only spread over very short distances, the source of infection in a particular field is usually a potentially infected object present in that field. The risk of infection depends on whether crops are near the epicenter of infection at the time of spore release. The most susceptible to them is the flowering phase, when the pathogen has just matured its spores, they easily penetrate into the plant tissues. The main routes of infection are anthers, ovaries, and the inner surface of the glumes. After successful infection, the mycelium of the fungus begins to develop inside the plant tissue towards the stem. When severely infected, the pathogen produces a large number of mycelium, which is deposited in the vascular-conducting system of the stem. As a result, partial or complete discolouration of the spike or white spike occurs. The degree of infection depends on weather conditions and potential pathogenic. Most important factor Factors affecting the incidence of Fusarium infection are the precursor, tillage quality, cultivar selection, weather conditions, and fungicide use. Two of these factors, precursor and tillage, have a recent influence on the amount of pathogen accumulation potential. The combination of the initial pathogenic potential and weather conditions, in turn, determines the accumulation of the pathogen, which can later lead to the appearance of fusariosis of the ear. The danger of Fusarium infection also depends on the perception of agricultural (development stage / resistance of the variety) and the timing of the application of fungicides. Variable and rainy weather during the heading period is especially conducive to the occurrence of infection. In order for destructive pathogens such as fungi of the genus Fusarium to be able to infect the plant, it is enough for them to have a wet period of 24 to 40 hours at temperatures above 20 ° C. Precipitation levels are only 3-5mm at minimum temperature 16-18 ° C during the flowering period of wheat can develop a very high risk of an outbreak. Different kinds Fusarium fungus differ mainly in the requirements for the temperature at which infection occurs (F. culmorum: 16-18 ° C; F. graminearum: 20-22 ° C). Warm and humid weather between flowering and maturation of crops, combined with their late harvest, creates preconditions for the spread of pathogens and contamination of grain with toxins. Main source of infection: maize stubble in short rotation crop rotation. Stubble, as well as other plant residues that remain on the soil surface, especially corn stalks, which are difficult to decompose, are a source of infection throughout the growing season; thus, the risk of infection of further crops is increased. So, tillage with minimal mechanical action contributes greatly to the occurrence of infection: depending on the technology and method of cultivation used, most of the plant residues remain on the surface of the soil and in its surface layer. According to a study in France, after harvesting wheat planted by direct seeding after corn, the content of deoxynivalenol in it was four times higher than that of wheat sown after ploughing. For minimum tillage, the content of toxins in the soil was twice as high as for plowing. It is absolutely clear that the incorporation of stubble into the soil by plowing significantly reduces the risk of infection. However, stubble, which was previously in the soil and during the plowing process, returned to the surface of the soil during preparation of the soil for subsequent crops, still remains a source of infection if it is not completely overripe. The greatest risk of infection is if wheat is sown by direct seeding after corn. The second very risky method, albeit with a much lower degree of risk, is hanging wheat by direct sowing in the stubble after cereal predecessors. Different strategies must be used to reduce infestation. Farmers need to apply certain agronomic measures to avoid infection of crops with Fusarium fungus, since the crop should not contain toxins in concentrations exceeding the acceptable level of infection. Depending on location and other factors, the following measures should be taken to reduce infection: Careful choice of crops in rotation: reduce the amount of corn or grains in long rotation rotation.

Variety selection: growing varieties with less susceptibility to Fusarium fungus; Stubble incorporation: plowing the soil reduces the risk of infection; also grinding and uniform distribution of plant residues of agricultural crops accelerates the process of their decomposition in the soil with the help of microorganisms (which proceeds even faster when ammonia urea is added to the soil);

Carrying out top dressing of agricultural household balls tour: underdevelopment of the crop and lodging (both of these phenomena can increase the susceptibility of plants to infection) should be avoided by applying fertilizers in accordance with the requirements for specific crops. Harvesting the crop as soon as the grain has reached the required stage of maturation (sufficiently low moisture content);

Application of plant protection products: use of fungicides.

Treatment of seeds with disinfectants, spraying leaves and ears with appropriate preparations (which include active ingredients such as tebuconazole, prothioconazole: Lamardor, Raxil Ultra, Falcon, Folicur), which reduce infectious loads. Effective fungicides are already available, but weather conditions remain the main factor that determines the appearance of infection. If conditions are conducive to infection, farms have little choice but to use fungicides to control Fusarium to reduce infection and, most importantly, to reduce mycotoxin production. When the lesions caused by this pathogen are already present at the time of processing the leaves, it makes sense to use a preparation containing components that are effective against the Fusarium fungus - Falcon, Folicur. Such actions can lead to a significant reduction in infection by these pathogens and a decrease in mycotoxin contamination. According to the results of tests, during which the ears of cereal crops were treated with azole fungicides (containing components such as tebuconazole or prothioconazole as an active substance), it was clearly proved that when the crops were treated at the appropriate time, the degree of damage to the spike by Fusarium, and, accordingly, the level of infection with the toxin , can be significantly reduced. In field trials spanning several years in France, Germany and the UK, Falcon significantly reduced infections with the pathogenic fungus Fusarium in more than half of the wheat varieties studied, and also reduced the content of deoxynivalenol in grain by an average of 50%. The timing for treatment is highly dependent on the species of pathogenic fungus Fusarium and the weather conditions required for infection. All this means that the time for optimal treatment of crops with fungicides is limited. best time for the use of drugs during flowering - after one or two days from the moment of infection with a pathogen. First of all, after rain, after the beginning of the appearance of the ear (when about 30-40% of the ears appeared). Spraying efficiency may be less if it is carried out only a few days earlier or later than necessary. Tests carried out over a period of several years have shown that the optimal time to use the preparations is, on average, within three days before flowering and three days after flowering. However, the occurrence of infection caused by the pathogenic Fusarium fungus can be successfully reduced with the use of Falcon.

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Symptoms of the disease

Morphology

The causative agents of the disease are fungi of the genus. As a rule, this is .

Conidia are sickle-shaped or fusiform, have from three to five, less often one or two or six to nine partitions. Alone - colorless, in mass - with a pinkish tinge. Size: 41.0-80.0x4.0-6.0 microns.

Perithecium - crowded, merging or very close together, elliptical or ovoid, blue, especially in transmitted light. Stomata are papillary. Size 200.0-300.0x170.0-200.0 microns. Perithecia are located in the stroma, which has a different thickness and configuration, often flat, practically creeping along the substrate.

Asci - located on a short thick leg. They are elongate-lanceolate, pointed towards the apex. Ask size 60.0-79.0x10.0-12.0 microns.

Ascospores are fusiform, oblique-single row, the ends are slightly pointed. Usually they have three transverse partitions and barely pronounced constrictions. The size of the ascospores is 18.0-24.0x4.0-5.0 µm.

Conidia are crescent-shaped, colorless singly, pink in mass, with three to five septa. The sizes of conidia are 30.0-120.0x3.0-5.0 microns.

Biology

The main source of infection is infected seeds, inside which the mycelium of the fungus is preserved, and spores on the surface. In winter, the infection persists on infected plant debris and in the soil.

Most plants from the cereal family can become host plants for fungi that call for head blight.

Mushrooms infect the ovary during flowering. By the time of maturation, a mycelium and conidial sporulation (reddish pillows) are formed on almost all aboveground organs. During grain germination, the mycelium of Fusarium pathogens penetrates into the stem and successfully develops in it, but outside the conducting system.

Striking the spikelets, the mycelium penetrates the grain. With a weak degree of damage, it is located in the pericarp, or in the shell of the grain. With a stronger one - in the aleurone layer, where it decomposes proteins with the release of NH 3 and some other toxic substances.

Favorable conditions for the development of the disease are created by humid and warm weather, which coincides with the period from the earing phase to the harvesting of grain. Mushroom germination is observed at temperatures from +3°C-+8°C. The most favorable conditions for the development of infection: temperature in the range from +20°C to +30°C in combination with air humidity of 75% or more.

Maliciousness

Fusarium head blight is a harmful disease that affects all crops. It is the cause of grain frailty and loss of germination. Bread baked from flour obtained from the affected grain is not suitable for food, since it has an intoxicating property and causes acute poisoning, accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, loss of efficiency. Symptoms of poisoning are similar to those of alcohol. Grain and grain products affected by ear fusarium are not suitable for animal feed.

With a strong degree of development of the disease, yield losses can reach more than 50% with a simultaneous decrease in grain quality. If a batch of wheat contains more than 5% of grain affected by ear fusarium, its use as food for animals and humans is prohibited, since the content of the toxin in such grain exceeds the permissible level.