Project Number: 3620-22410-011-07
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 28, 2009
End Date: May 31, 2012

Objective:
Field test and optimize multiple biological and fungicide treatment parameters to enhance the integrated control of Fusarium head blight.

Approach:
While many studies have shown a variety of approaches including disease forecasting, resistant varieties, cultural controls, fungicides, and biocontrol agents to be incrementally useful in reducing Fusarium head blight (FHB), it has become apparent that the integration of multiple control measures offers the best opportunity to substantially and consistently reduce the impact of FHB. Using biological control as part of the integrated management of FHB remains under-studied yet represents an approach with considerable potential for significantly contributing to the reduction of FHB and DON. In our recent greenhouse and field studies, we have shown that culture variants of our wild-type yeast strain OH 182.9 tend to reduce FHB severity to a greater extent than our wild-type OH 182.9 progenitor strain and can be combined with triazole fungicides with greater success. While these results show there is potential for integrating triazole fungicides with culture variants of OH 182.9 to reduce FHB/DON, considerable additional research is required to maximize the degree of this reduction. Studies will be conducted to optimize the order, timing, and application interval of the fungicide and biotic components to maximize the level of FHB/DON reduction achieved in field trials at Wooster, OH, and Peoria, IL. Microbial biomass will be produced in Peoria using benchtop and/or 100-L fermentor vessels and processed into cell concentrates as needed. Fungicide and microbial applications will be made with CO2-pressurized backpack sprayers at 20 gal/A and 40 PSI. Sprayers will be equipped with nozzles that are oriented to spray forward at 30 degrees below the horizontal. Disease severity, incidence, grain test weight, 1000 kernel weight, and DON content will be determined in order to evaluate treatment effectiveness.