A SURVEY FOR FUSARIUM GRAMINEARUM ON CORN IN ALBERTA IN 2017

Fusarium graminearum is an important pathogen in Alberta. It causes root rot, stem rot and head blight in wheat and barley, and stalk rot and ear rot in corn. It is a regulated pest in Alberta. Large-scale surveys for F. graminearum have been performed in Alberta in 2010, 2015 and 2016. In order to maintain an annual survey for this pest, a corn survey was undertaken in 2017. A total of 119 corn fields were sampled and evaluated for F. graminearum and this pathogen was confirmed in 55 fields for a prevalence of 42%. Approximately 90% of the recovered F. graminearum isolates were the 15-ADON chemotype.