[3] Other than these differences, the signs and symptoms of both fungal pathogens are very similar, showing necrosis of the stem base and crown.
[4] The primary infection of the host’s xylem is thought to occur at the crown or lower sheath of the stem from stubble containing a spore and mycelial inoculum.
[3] The transport dysfunction occurring in the xylem and the buildup of DON will ultimately lead to death of the infected wheat plants.
[5] Overwintering on crop residue, seeds, or in the soil is easily accomplished for this Fusarium species due to the formation of survival structures called chlamydospores.
These sexual spores then land on a mature wheat host and would start to colonize the stem and area around the crown as summer proliferates.
Conidia, produced from the chlamydospores in soil or spread by wind, can infect wheat through natural openings and colonize the xylem and pith of the host.
The mycotoxin DON is harmful to animal and humans that consume the wheat, which makes the crop inedible and is thus a costly problem (Miedaner et al. 2008).
[9] In the field survey of wheat crops in Australia, the maximum summer temperature in areas where F. pseudograminearum was found to be as high as 31 °C.
A few of the resistant wheat varieties include 2–49, Sunco, Kukri, Brundage, Gene, Weatherford, Madson, Temple, and Tubbs.
Because of wheat’s central role in the global diet, crown rot represents a major economic concern.
[9] Across the United States, average losses in winter wheat resulting from crown rot have been estimated to be as high as 9.5% through large areas of the Pacific northwest.
In the past three decades, crown rot has become the disease of greatest relative importance in the northern grain producing regions of Australia.
[15] Furthermore, in seasons where environmental conditions permit, crown rot can decrease wheat yield by up to 100% in Australia and up to 65% in North America.
[16] In some European nations, the government has put out regulatory guidelines suggesting that DON's total daily intake should not exceed 1μg/kg.