2010 Fusarium Head Blight Situation

Alberta Crop Districts

In 2010, Canadian Grain Commission's harvest sample program provided detailed information on fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK), a grading factor for suspected fusarium damage in small grain cereal crops, for Alberta. In 2010, 4.6% of CWRS in Alberta Crop District 1 (CD) were degraded due to FDK; those samples degraded for FDK averaged 1.5%. In CD2, 8.1% of CWRS in Alberta were degraded due to FDK; those samples degraded for FDK averaged 1.53% FDK. In CD4, 5.7% of CWRS in Alberta were degraded due to FDK; those samples degraded for FDK averaged 1.62% FDK. In CD5, 6.8% of CWRS in Alberta were degraded due to FDK; those samples degraded for FDK averaged 2.45% FDK. In CD1, 22.5% of CWAD were degraded due to FDK; those degraded for FDK averaged 1.77%. In CD2, 10.5% of CWAD were degraded due to FDK; those degraded for FDK averaged 1.59%.

When the CGC looked at the fungal species causing FDK in wheat, their results show that in Southern Alberta FDK were infected by Septoria nodorum (48%), Fusarium graminearum (28%) and F. culmorum (8%). In Central Alberta (CD4 & 5), FDK in wheat were infected predominantly by S. nodorum (65%), Fusarium avenaceum (19%) and F. culmorum (7%). The CGC also checked the chemotype of 150 F. graminearum isolates from Southern Alberta (CD1 & 2) and found that 88% were the 15 ADON type and 12% were the 3 ADON type. This is an increase of the 3 ADON type by 5% compared to chemotyping results in 2009.

Detailed information on the FHB situation in Alberta in 2010 and earlier can be found at the Canadian Grain Commission website.

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