Characterization ofFusariumcolonization of spring barley and wheat produced on stubble or fallow soil

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Abstract
Populations of Fusarium from crowns and ears of barley and wheat were estimated and identified to the species levels. Host plants were produced from seed originating in eastern and western Canada and planted with and without seed treatment in a summer-fallowed or a continuously cropped cereal field. Fusarial infection and disease symptoms of the crown and head tissues were compared to agronomic data collected during the 2-y experiment. Fusaria pathogenic to cereals were located primarily in the soil organic debris fractions, greater numbers being recovered from the continuously cropped cereal field. Seed treatments only marginally reduced crown infection and neither crown infection nor soil history appeared to be related to the amount of Fusarium recovered from ear tissues. Soil-borne fusaria, however, appeared to have a role in the levels of crown infection, with wheat being more heavily colonized than barley. Wheat emergence and seedling vigor, but not disease symptoms, were significantly correlated with yield. Barley yields were correlated with root and leaf disease severity. Fallowing was the only factor which may have reduced the infection levels of Fusarium species.