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Activity 22

Biological control and management of Fusarium head blight and associated diseases Ìýin organic grain production

Winter wheat field trial for biological control of fusarium (Photo by Jake Gregory)

Project Introduction

Current climate change impacts including rising temperatures in Ontario (Eastern Canada) and above-average growing season precipitation in Saskatchewan (Western Canada) have been causing high levels of crop diseases, including Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereals, as well as root rot in pulses in Saskatchewan, limiting crop productivity and the quality and safety of grain. These conditions also have the potential of compromising organic agriculture which relies on legume green manure for fertility and weed control.

There has been an increasing consumer demand for organic products in Canada and beyond. Saskatchewan is the largest organic grain producer, where over three quarters of organic field crops on the Prairies are grown. There is a growing number of organic producers in Eastern Canada including in Ontario. Maintaining and increasing the quality of organic grain is imperative for keeping up with organic market demand. Ìý

The use of biological control agents (BCAs) has become increasingly common and accepted in both organic crop production and by conventional farmers as a pest control method. BCAs address food safety and environmental concerns and promote sustainable crop production with decreased input cost. Some BCAs have failed, in part because of a failure to consistently colonize their host crops. Plants are inhabited and coated by mobile probiotic microbes known as endophytes, which can effectively colonize plants. Our team has demonstrated that immobile plant cells maintain endophytes that act similarly to human immunity cells, to seek-and-destroy pathogens at pathogen-entry points. To the best of our knowledge, no sentinel endophytes have been isolated from Fusarium entry points in wheat. This would represent an innovative scientific discovery and strategy to combat wheat diseases. No BCAs including probiotic endophytes have been reported or registered for use against FHB and root rot pathogens of field crops in Canada.

Biocontrol of important crop diseases, such as FHB and root rot, would contribute to the maintenance or improvements in productivity, sustainability and competitiveness of the organic sector. Controlling diseases such as root rot in pulses and other crops would also allow for the continued use of green manures in organic production. The use of endophytes and BCAs could also benefit host crops by promoting plant growth or acting as biofertilizers.

Because of the increased demand for high quality organic grain, it is necessary that these products have low levels, or are free, of any harmful mycotoxins. Identifying the crop production factors that contribute to the development of FHB and associated mycotoxins, and other kernel diseases, in cereal crops grown under organic management would be of great benefit to Canadian organic grain producers.

Final Report Summary

A: The fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Fg) can reduce the income of Canadian grain farmers by causing the disease Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) in wheat and barley, and Gibberella ear rot in corn. Outbreaks of these diseases are expected to worsen due to climate change, which could transform them into global pandemics for these two critical crops which underpin human and livestock nutrition...

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B: Coming soon! Ìý

Publications and Other Resources

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Activity Researchers

Name ÌýÌýÌýÌý Organization/Location
Dr. Myriam R. Fernandez (Activity Leader) Swift Current Research and Development Centre, AAFC
Prof. Manish N. Raizada (Activity Leader) University of Guelph, Guelph, ONÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Dr. Michelle Hubbard Swift Current Research and Development Centre, AAFC
Dr. Allen Xue Ottawa Research and Development Centre, AAFCÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Dr. Barbara Blackwell Ottawa Research and Development Centre, AAFC
Kerry LaForge Kerry LaForgeÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Dr. Victor Limay-Rios Ridgetown College Univ of Guelph, Ridgetown ON

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Contributing partners


Denis Brisebois

Martin Meinert

Dwayne Smith