Fusarium Head Blight Epidemics in Soft Red Winter Wheat Fields in Georgia from 2018 to 2019

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) epidemics on wheat have caused significant yield and economic penalties in the United States since the early 1990s. This report documents FHB epidemics on soft red winter wheat in Georgia in 2018 and 2019. Forty-four wheat fields across 23 counties were assessed for FHB incidence (2019 only), Fusarium-damaged kernel, deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination, and thousand kernel weight. Higher levels of FHB were observed in 2019 compared to 2018. A significant correlation was observed between DON and 7-day pre-anthesis weather variables in 2019. FHB parameters were significantly correlated to post-anthesis weather variables at 10-day in both years and at 20 and 30-day in 2018 suggesting that post-anthesis rather than pre-anthesis weather had a greater impact on FHB in our study. The combination of hours of conducive temperature and relative humidity post-anthesis was consistently correlated with all FHB parameters in both years and could be the best predictor of FHB epidemics. FHB has emerged as the leading threat for soft red winter wheat production in Georgia. Planting moderately resistant wheat cultivars along with in-season management including proper fungicide application, by closely monitoring the national FHB forecasting system, would be the best integrated management strategies for Georgian wheat growers.