Incidence of Crown Rot Disease of Wheat Caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum as a New Soil Born Fungal Species in North West Iran

Root rot and crown rot is one of the main important fungal diseases on wheat in North West Iran. The disease was studied during 1999-2004 growing seasons in four provinces including Qazvin, Zanjan, East Azarbyjan and Ardabil. Different wheat fields in the areas studied were visited and samples of the plants showing symptoms like chlorosis, withering, whiting of spikes, growth reduction and white heads were collected and transferred to the laboratory. Samples were surface sterilized with sodium hypochlorite and then cultured on common media (PDA) and specific media (PPA and CLA). Totally 155 fungal isolates belonging to five genera were identified and the pathogen most frequently isolated was Fusarium pseudograminearum (formerly known as F. graminearum Group 1). This species normally causes crown rot resulting in severe damage in several locations under dry spring conditions. The disease caused losses from 18-45.5% in the fields where the season and crop rotation allowed the disease to build up. Prolonged moisture stresses coupled with relatively high soil temperature in the fall enhanced early disease development on the roots and sub crown internodes. Environmental conditions and genetic susceptibility of cultivars were the two main factors affecting diseases incidence.