Effects of Field Application of Tebuconazole on Yield, Yield Components and the Mycotoxin Content of Fusarium-infected Wheat Grain

Winter wheat cultivar Basalt was arti ficia lly inocu lated wi th Fusariu1I1 culmonlfll a t the end or a nthcsis Hnd treated with the systemic rungicide tebuconazole (Folicur") a rew days berore a nd ʹo r "fter inoculation. Check plots remained uninoculalcd and unsp rayed. Head infections. yield. yield components and tht: pcn . .:c;ntagc of FusariulIlinfected kernels were determined. Arlit-icial Fusarium inocu lation lowered yie ld significantly by 24.2 45.0% . Any fungicide treatmel1l saved yie ld, thollsa nd grain weight <.Ind kernel numbers per head. Pre-infectional application of tebuconHlolc was supcrior to application carried OLit post-infection. Moreove r, the fungicide controlled deoxynivalenol (DON) synthesis in the licld to a considerable exten t, and ena bled good cont rol or Fusarium head bl ight. glume blotch and the percentage o r Fusarium-infected kernels. The levels of Fusarium kernel infection arter harvest clearly rencctcd the DON contcnt or wheat grain