Objective:
Participate in the Uniform Fungicide Testing program established by the U.S. Wheat and Barley Fusarium Scab Initiative (USWBFSI). Investigate the role of varying crop residue levels on the incidence of FHB as part of a multi-state cooperative effort. Determine the role of rain splash in dissemination of Gibberella zeae inoculum.

Approach:
Evaluate various fungicides and biological control agents in replicated trials for efficacy against FHB using protocols established by the USWBFSI. Make appropriate disease and grain quality assessments according to protocols designated by the USWBFSI. Participate in a regional FHB risk prediction system currently under construction at Pennsylvania State University. Following protocols from 2003, monitor the environmental parameters within the plots to determine the inoculum present in the air and wheat heads in each residue level treatment to determine the overall significance of crop residues as a source of inoculum. Data from weather and pathogen monitoring will be used to modify existing FHB risk forecasting models. Continue studies to further document and quantify the number of propagules being disseminated at various heights in the wheat canopy, using the single drop generator to impact drops of various sizes onto different sources of inoculum and using a phase droppler particle analyzer to measure the velocity and diameter of all generated drops to examine the ability of drops to disseminate ascospores and conidia. FY06 Title - Effects of Fungicide, Resistance, and Residue on FHB, and Splash Dispersal of Gibberella zeae