Nitrogen Fertilization Influence on Fusarium and Deoxynivalenol Contamination of Wheat

Year 2025, Volume: 30 Issue: 2, 364 - 377, 28.12.2025

Vesna Krnjaja , Violeta Mandic , Aleksandar Simić , Slavica Stanković , Ana Obradović , Tanja Vasić , Dragan Nikšić

https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1686529

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is the most devastating disease of small cereal grains worldwide caused by several Fusarium species. F. graminearum sensu stricto is the most frequently identified FHB pathogen within the F. graminearum species complex (FGSC). This pathogen produces the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, which reduces grain quality and poses a threat to human and animal health. In this study, the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha–1) on the incidence of Fusarium spp., levels of deoxynivalenol (DON), agronomic traits (plant height – PH, spike length – SL, and thousand-grain weight – TGW) and grain yield (GY) in two winter wheat cultivars (Nogal and NS Ilina) over two growing seasons (2016–2017 and 2017–2018) was investigated. Among Fusarium species, FGSC strains were the most frequently isolated in both years. The incidence of FGSC strains (20.22%), DON levels (323.59 µg kg–1), PH (83.21 cm), TGW (38.68 g), and GY (8.88 t ha–1) were higher in 2017 than in 2018 (9.66%, 97.72 µg kg–1, 71.05 cm, 34.35 g, and 5.11 t ha–1, respectively). Cultivar NS Ilina had significantly higher FGSC incidence (20.11%), DON levels (302 µg kg–1 ), PH (85.57 cm), and SL (9.11 cm) than cultivar Nogal (9.77%, 104.71 µg kg–1 , 68.68 cm, and 7.65 cm, respectively). The N rate significantly increased PH, but did not affect the other investigated parameters. Although both wheat cultivars tested were susceptible to Fusarium pathogens and DON, Nogal displayed less susceptibility than NS Ilina. Therefore, adopting integrated disease management that focuses on FHB resistant or less susceptible wheat cultivars can reduce the risk of pathogen presence and DON.

Keywords

deoxynivalenol , Fusarium spp. , nitrogen fertilization , agronomic traits , winter wheat

Supporting Institution

The Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia

Project Number

No. 451-03-136/2025-03/200022, No. 451-03-137/2025-03/200116, No. 451-03-137/2025-03/200383 and No. 451-03-136/2024-03/200040

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