Fusarium populations were investigated in @entity2829 grains and their husks about six weeks before harvest in three @entity2829 fields in the Manawatu region of New Zealand. The role of litter and soil as reservoirs for these fungi was also examined. Two techniques were used to examine populations, dilution plating and direct plating. Using the dilution plating technique the highest overall populations were found in husks (mean 2.2 x 10(5)/g) and litter (mean 1.4 x 10(5)/g), while similar lower numbers of viable propagules were obtained from grain (mean 2.1 x 10(3)/g) and soil (2.8 x 10(3)/g). With this technique five Fusarium spp. were commonly isolated; @entity12069 ( @entity12069 ), F. culmorum, F. subglutinans, @entity4278 and F. acuminatum, of which @entity12069 was the most abundant. With the direct plating technique 87% of grains were infected with Fusarium spp., with some grains being infected with more than one species. Segments from husks and litter, 70% and 43% respectively, were colonised by Fusariumr spp. @entity12069 was the most frequent species isolated from @entity2829 grain and husk segments (48.3 and 37.7% colonisation respectively). Other species, particularly F. culmorum and F. acuminatum, were also found to be common contaminants. A total of 15 Fusarium spp. was recovered from all material examined by both techniques. Cultures with characteristics resembling those of @entity18327 were rarely observed.

Occurrence and distribution of Fusarium species in XXXX fields in New Zealand.

@entity4278 :: ('5507', 'Species') :: ['F. oxysporum'] @entity12069 :: ('5518', 'Species') :: ['F. graminearum', 'Gibberella zeae'] @entity2829 :: ('4577', 'Species') :: ['maize'] @entity18327 :: ('117187', 'Species') :: ['F. moniliforme']
@entity2829 :: (4577,Species) :: ['maize']
