Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is in important disease on wheat in Indiana. In addition, F. graminearum can contaminate grain with deoxynivalenol (DON), which can impact both animal and human health. In favorable disease years high levels of FHB and DON can cause load rejections across Indiana, therefore this disease is of concern to both conventional and organic grain growers. Cultivars with moderate resistance to FHB have not always provided desirable levels of disease control, and fungicides have become an important component in FHB and DON management plans. The overall goal of this research was to use an integrated approach that combines genetic resistance and fungicide application to achieve optimal FHB management. From 2019 to 2022, wheat trials were established at the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE) in Tippecanoe County, IN and at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) in Knox County, IN to evaluate both fungicide efficacy and the integration of cultivars and fungicides. In general, the experiments were either a randomized complete block design to evaluate fungicide efficacy or a strip-plot design to evaluate the integration of cultivars with fungicides. Synthetic and OMRI approved products were applied at Feekes 10.3 and/or Feekes 10.51 (early-anthesis) and 3 to 7 days after Feekes 10.51. Data collection included FHB incidence, severity, and index, DON, and yields. A summary of the last four years of research in Indiana in both conventional and organic grain will be shared and will help determine the impact of implementing these FHB management tools in both conventional and organic wheat in Indiana.

 Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement Nos. 59-0206-0-118,     59-0206-2-164, 59-0206-9-123, National Institute of Food and Agriculture award number H008917109 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number LNC20-443, and Hatch Project #IND00162952. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.