Fusarium head blight in western Canada
Chapter 5. Cultural characteristics of the causal agents of Fusarium head blight in western Canada
Incubation conditions
Wheat seeds were surface disinfested by soaking in a 0.3% NaOCl solution for 1 minute. They were then dried in a laminar flow cabinet, placed onto cooled potato dextrose agar (Difco, Detroit MI) and incubated for 5 days under a cycle of 12 hours darkness at 20°C and 12 hours of mixed UV and fluorescent light at 25°C.
Fusarium graminearum growing from wheat seed as seen from above (left) and below (right).
Typically red mycelia, sometimes with yellow tint. Sporodochia not always well developed, and predominantly or exclusively red.
Loose mycelium with abundant orange and red sporodochia. Fast growing.
Dense white mycelium gives the culture the appearance of a cotton ball. From below it often has white border around the colony.
One Fusarium graminearum and three Fusarium culmorum together on the same plate.
Five Fusarium graminearum, one Fusarium culmorum (with multicoloured sporodochia), one Fusarium avenaceum (cotton ball appearance), and one Septoria nodorum on the same plate as seen from above and below. Septoria nodorum produces a small culture with ropy mycelium and a yellowish-orange undersurface.
Three Fusarium graminearum, three Fusarium avenaceum, and one Septoria nodorum on the same plate as seen from above (left) and below (right).