A Total Fusarium Management Strategy for Alberta

by | Jan 24, 2022

An update on where Alberta is at in its new approach to the fusarium fight.

Farming small grains, like other agricultural pursuits, consists of several emotional swings resulting from any number of positive experiences tempered by occasional negative bombshells. One of those negative emotional experiences can be witnessed frequently at the local elevator when a wheat or barley grower learns their crop is being downgraded and discounted thanks to the presence of Fusarium graminearium.

The battle against fusarium infection in Alberta has been fierce and unrelenting as seed breeders and producers strive for control through resistance and advanced crop management. Unfortunately, fusarium continues to infect wheat and barley fields barely fazed by suppression efforts. A new strategy was needed.

On June 3, 2020, the provincial government announced Fusarium graminearium would be removed from Alberta’s Pest and Nuisance Control Regulations, explains Lauren Comin, director of research at the Alberta Wheat and Barley commissions.

“Up to this point, it was illegal to plant or sell seed that had known presence of infection of the fungal pathogen. Consistency of enforcement was questionable under the Act, and, regardless, best management practices were recommended for preventing the disease,” she explains.

Comin adds since deregulation, best management practices have remained the best way to combat the pathogen, with the industry having placed greater emphasis on education and extension. This has included developing a new website, which houses resources on Fusarium graminearium.

The commissions have also received word individual counties in Alberta’s Peace region have instituted a bylaw reinforcing the allowable level of infection in seed and in crop.

Fusarium graminearium was declared a pest under the Alberta Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation in 1999 to help prevent the introduction and spread of the disease. Under the regulations, as a declared pest no person was able to sell, distribute or use any seed or crop material containing Fusarium graminearium as defined in the Agricultural Pest Act, essentially a zero-tolerance policy was created that was misaligned with the realities of practices in the industry, explains Shannon Sereda, policy and government relations manager for the Alberta Wheat and Barley commissions.

“This put a strain on seed supply as well as new seed varieties being launched into Alberta,” Monica Klaas, general manager of the Alberta Seed Processors, says over email. “Additionally, the focus on seed infection being the sole source of the pathogen was simply outdated, as the pathogen had become endemic to some fields, and corn acreage continues to grow adding another pathogen source.”

With the removal of the pathogen, the industry-wide focus is now on a total management approach.

“Definitely using seed that is of high quality and has the lowest levels of (Fusarium graminearium) as possible is part of the management approach,” Klaas says. “But the good news is that the focus and effort is on all of the management tools- not just seed with no or low levels of infection.”

By the government acknowledging how Fusarium graminearium has become widespread in the province, it showed a zero-tolerance or singular regulatory approach hasn’t worked. It didn’t account for the diseases’ continued establishment in Alberta, the growth in knowledge of the pathology of the disease, or the right of farmers to assess and take an appropriate level of risk based on their individual operational circumstances. Sereda says many agree the favoured approach going forward is one which promotes a total management approach with an emphasis on extension and education of best management practices.

While deregulation is meant to encourage transparency, awareness and promotion of critical best management practices, individual counties/municipalities are entitled to re-evaluate Fusarium graminearium as a pest. This would be done through the introduction of a municipal by-law under the Municipal Government Act.

“It appears that at least two counties in northern Alberta have moved forward with implementation of these bylaws, with some lack of clarity on enforcement measures that will be taken,” Sereda adds.

The Big Fusarium Map for Alberta

As part of this new fusarium management approach, the Alberta Seed Processors released a fusarium infection map in the summer of 2021. It provides insight into the regions where the fusarium head blight (FHB) pathogen is present.

The map has helped the industry to see how widespread of a problem fusarium infection has become across the province. Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension specialist with the Alberta Wheat and Barley commissions says they were aware fusarium was well established in southern Alberta and present in central Alberta.

Seed Testing map

Map of Alberta showing positive seed test samples for Fusarium graminearium as done by 20/20 Seed Labs for the 2020/21 growing season. Photo: Alberta Seed Processors

“The recent survey from Alberta Seed Processors confirmed presence of fusarium throughout the Peace region including Northern Lights and Northern Sunrise counties. This demonstrates that all producers in Alberta should be considering FHB in their crop management plan,” he explains

The map is also being used as an education resource to teach farmers about fusarium infection levels around Alberta.

“Many growers were not aware of the levels of fusarium in their county. The map indicates the per cent of samples in each county that tested positive for (Fusarium graminearium).  For example, the Municipal District of Wainwright had more than 50 per cent of their samples testing positive for (Fusarium graminearium). However, in the County of Northern Lights, one to 10 per cent of the samples tested positive for (Fusarium graminearium),” Sheri Strydhorst, agronomy research specialist with the Alberta Wheat and Barley commissions, explains.

Strydhorst says the map information helps growers evaluate their local situation and develop an appropriate management plan. For example, growers in the Municipal District of Wainwright have a higher disease incidence and should implement as many FHB management activities as possible. These include:

  • Long, diverse crop rotations (a two or three-year break from host crops such as wheat and corn)
  • Planting varieties with the best genetic resistance to FHB
  • Using seed with low or no Fusarium graminearium infection
  • Using seed treatment with ‘Fusarium spp.’ on the label
  • Regular field scouting
  • Using foliar fungicide to promote Fg suppression

“Knowing where the pathogen is endemic is key for farmers to make appropriate plans to manage the disease,” Klaas explains.  “The maps are best used in conjunction with information regarding cropping history, field scouting, and of course environment data.”

“Prior to the changes, research on (Fusarium graminearium) in Alberta was limited,” Strydhorst explains. “Scientists could only study (Fusarium graminearium) that was naturally occurring in fields, and they couldn’t conduct research trials with fusarium infected seed. As such fusarium research in the Alberta environment was limited prior to the 2021 growing season.”

Klaas adds the removal of regulatory hurdles creates a research environment that now freely discusses FHB, and inter-provincial research projects are now a bit simpler to navigate.

The Importance of Seed Testing

Farmers are being encouraged to get their seed tested for fusarium. By knowing seed infection levels, it acts as a pathogen surveillance tool and helps the farmer make tailored decisions regarding fusarium management for each seed lot, Klaas explains. Seed testing in general is one of the lowest input costs which provides a wealth of information as farmers plan for a successful crop.

“Most seed cleaning co-ops have maintained policies that require all seed cleaned in a co-op facility to be tested for fusarium,” Klaas says. “Each facility will have a tolerance level ranging from zero and up. Farmers need to consult with their local seed cleaning facility regarding the specific fusarium policy.”

Currently there are two methods for testing seed for fusarium, explains Samiya Fatima, disease diagnostician with 20/20 Seed Labs, in an email. These are the plate and DNA test.

Fusarium graminearum culture

Fusarium graminearium culture in a petri dish. Photo: 20/20 Seed Labs

In the DNA test, the sample is tested for the presence of Fusarium graminearium DNA. It’s fast at around a two-day turnaround, and sensitive. The sample isn’t surface sterilized so it will detect surface contamination and low levels of infection.

In the plate test, the sample is plated on PDA (potato dextrose agar) and colonies are allowed to grow for five to seven days. The colonies are identified based on spore and colony morphology. This allows the lab to quantify the fusarium species and the results are reported as percentage of infection with detection rates as low as 0.5 per cent.

During the growing season, Spornado tunnels are employed to detect air-borne pathogens. Fusarium spores travel in the air and the Spornado funnels have filters which trap the spores. The filters are then tested at the lab using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) methods for presence of pathogens. Fatima says this is a very useful tool for making spray decisions.

Province-wide Fusarium Action

Alberta Wheat and Barley commissions are involved on the Fusarium Action Alberta (FAAB) committee, formerly known as the Fusarium Action Committee.

“Post-deregulation, the role of this committee has been to update the existing Alberta Fusarium Management Plan,” Comin explains.

The latest version of the updated plan is posted online at manageFHB.com and alberta.ca. There is participation from across Alberta on FAAB, including agricultural fieldmen, researchers, producers, and seed growers.”

Comin adds the Fusarium Action Plan outlines best management practices for crops intended for seed, feed or grain. Diverse participation and buy-in ensures all sectors of the industry are providing consistent messaging on fusarium.

Header photo — Closeup of Fusarium graminearium. Photo: 20/20 Seed Labs

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