Fusarium: Investigations into the control of basal rots in crops

Summary: 

Fusarium species cause some of the most devastating diseases in agriculture and horticulture with both specialist and generalist pathogenic species that affect single or multiple hosts respectively. F. oxysporum is one the most important species with many pathogenic ‘forms’ that are specific to particular crops. These are particularly challenging to identify as even molecular approaches cannot easily distinguish between the different pathogenic or non pathogenic isolates. This, together with the fact that there is a wide diversity of other pathogenic Fusarium species that can often occur together in a disease complex, has hampered both our understanding of the epidemiology of these important pathogens, as well as the development of effective disease management strategies. The main aim of this proposal is to develop tools and approaches to detect, identify and quantify multiple Fusarium species and also assess the relationship between inoculum level and disease development with a focus on onion, leek, narcissus and column stocks. DNA-based tests will be developed for key Fusarium pathogens and ‘next generation’ amplicon sequencing techniques developed and employed to understand the dynamics and interaction of multiple pathogenic and non-pathogenic Fusarium species concomitantly, against the background of the wider microbial community. This ‘Fusarium community’ approach will have wide application across multiple crop types in agriculture and horticulture in understanding how different Fusarium species and complexes proliferate or decline in response to rotations, environment and application of control treatments, such as biopesticides. Such accurate identification and analysis of Fusarium has not been possible before and it is only with recent advances and use of the latest information and technology (such as whole genome sequencing) that the aims of this proposal can be addressed. The work outlined here is an essential first phase in underpinning a longer-term programme of Fusarium research that aims to improve our fundamental knowledge of Fusarium diseases and develop new management approaches across multiple crops.    

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