Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat

etiology, symptoms, mycotoxin, and management

Abstract

Fusarium head blight, a disease primarily caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most significant phytosanitary challenges for wheat cultivation in southern Brazil. This disease severely affects both yield and grain quality, primarily due to the production of mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), a compound of high toxicity to both humans and animals. The incidence of Fusarium head blight (FHB) tends to increase in years marked by the occurrence of the El Niño climatic phenomenon, especially during the flowering stage of the crop, when environmental conditions are most conducive to infection. Effective management of FHB requires the implementation of an integrated approach that includes preventive measures, appropriate cultural practices, the use of cultivars with higher genetic resistance, as well as continuous monitoring of crop fields and meteorological conditions. Given the high toxicity of the mycotoxins associated with the disease, along with the inherent challenges of its control, the ongoing improvement of integrated management strategies is imperative, alongside the strengthening and strict enforcement of current sanitary regulations.