Association of Fusarium species in the wheat stem rot complex

Data from a national survey were analysed to investigate whether there was interdependence among the Fusarium species, which cause the stem rot complex of wheat. About 25 wheat stems were sampled from each of 260 sites over the main wheat growing areas in the UK. Occurrence of each Fusarium species on individual stems was determined. Fusarium culmorum, F. avenaceum and Microdochium nivale were the three dominant species, detected in 248, 185 and 239 out of the 260 sites. There were no interactions among species in the distribution of the three species over the 260 sites. Several statistical tests were used to determine whether there was interdependence among the three species on the same stem within each site. Of the three species, there was only limited evidence of competition between F. culmorum and F. avenaceum.