Population dynamics of Fusarium graminearum in various crop residuesusing qPCR measurements

Abstract: The influence of biotic (disinfected and non disinfected soil) and trophic (presence ofcrop residues or not) factors as well as the nature of residues (wheat, maize, rape) on thesaprotrophic competence of Fusarium graminearum in soil was investigated in controlledconditions in soil microcosms for 3 months using qPCR to monitor the population dynamics ofthe plant pathogenic fungus. The main factor was soil disinfection establishing that the survivalof F. graminearum was regulated by soil microbial communities. Crop residues provided afavourable habitat for F. graminearum but the growth of the pathogenic fungus was promoted todifferent extents according to the origin of the residues.