subject: Control Fusarium: Oxysporum, Gramminearum and Solani [print this page] Control Fusarium: Oxysporum, Gramminearum and Solani
Fusarium is a commonly distributed fungus through soil and plants, and while a few variations of it are harmless, some variations of it can produce mycotoxins. Mycotoxins, if entered into the food chain, may affect animal and even human health.
Fusarium Oxysporum
One variety, Fusarium Oxysporum, causes vascular wilt, yellowing and root rot in affected plants. The dropping of older leaves, wilting, and defoliation are all signs of infection that one should look out for. Eventually, if this activity continues on for long enough, it can lead to the deaths of entire plants.
Hosts of this fungus include potato, tomato, banana, sugarcane, bean, zinnia, pansy and baby's breath plants.
Fusarium Graminearum
Fusarium Graminearum often affects wheat, barley, oats and other small grain and corn crops.
Graminearum causes a powerful and destructive disease known as headblight which makes kernels on corn, barley and wheat shrivel up and die. Once headblight spores are discharged they can germinate within six hours of landing on the plants. Fusarium Graminearium can even last an entire winter and reintroduce infection during the next growing season.
Fusarium Solani
"Sudden death syndrome," or Fusarium Solani, usually appears after flowering and during pod fill. Starting initially with showing a small red spot on the leaves, if not caught quickly it spreads and causes roots to rot.
Fusarium Solani is the most common strain and can be found in rice, bean and soybean plants.
A common thread amongst most variations of Fusarium is that the fungi will often thrive in cool and wet weather.
Disease Management
Unfortunately, no techniques are 100% certain to ward off infection of this particular disease; however, there are options available to prevent and control Fusarium. Practices such as using more resistant varieties of crops and increasing soil drainage will reduce the chance of disease incidents.
Using an environmentally safe and biodegradeable product like TerraClean can also be effective is disease control. It's organic acids will penetrate soil and eradicate diseases quickly on contact.
Quick spreading fungal infections like Fusarium can result in widespread harm to plants, animals and humans. Considering that Fusarium Graminearum-related blight resulted in an estimated $3 billion in losses of American barley and wheat crops between 1991 and 1996 regular checks, prevention and treatment methods are very highly recommended.
