Critical review on characterization, management, and challenges of fusarium head blight disease in wheat

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat poses a significant concern globally due to its recurrent epidemics and substantial economic impact. This disease stems from the Fusarium species complex, prominently Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, and F. avenaceum, often coexisting with less pathogenic species such as F. sporotrichioides, F. langsethiae, F. triticum, F. poae, Microdochium majus, and Microdochium nivale. FHB's symptoms, such as spike bleaching, mycelium buildup, and shrunken kernels, impact grain quality, and yield, causing annual economic losses exceeding a billion dollars. Furthermore, mycotoxins generated by the FHB complex pose severe health risks to humans, animals, and the ecosystem. Regulatory standards have been enforced to curtail mycotoxin levels in wheat and its derivatives, underscoring the gravity of this issue. This review covers FHB's pathogenesis, its symptoms, identification, and characterisation of Fusarium species within the complex via morphological and molecular techniques. It summarizes the lifecycles of affiliated Fusarium species and their mode of infection. Mycotoxin production, health impacts, and regulatory thresholds in wheat are presented with an overview of management strategies and associated challenges. This review aims to enhance our understanding of FHB intricacies and its management in wheat, fostering more effective disease control measures and reinforcing global food security.