Gibberella avenacea
fusarium blight
Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium avenaceum f.sp. fabae, Fusarium avenaceum subsp. aywerte, Fusarium roseum var. avenaceum
Worldwide, primarily in temperate regions.
AZ, CA, CO, CT, ID, MT, NV, NY, ND, TX, WA, WY
2025-10-23
fungus
Thailand
Wide host range. Main: Fabaceae and Poaceae family, as well as some Brassicaceae and Cucurbitaceae.
GIBBAV
Gibberella avenacea is a common plant pathogen that affects cereals, potatoes, and other crops, causing root and crown rot, seedling blight, head blight, and storage rot, sometimes producing mycotoxins. It spreads through contaminated soil, plant debris, seeds, rain splash, wind, and tools, and can persist in crop residues.
Crops
Avena sativa
oat
Yes
GIBBAV-4, CABI CPC, GIBBAV-40, GIBBAV-41, GIBBAV-42
Gibberella avenacea infects oats, causing seedling blight, root and crown rot, and sometimes head blight. It spreads through infected seed, soil, crop residues, rain splash, and wind, and can survive in oat debris between seasons.
Yes
blotter
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter has been developed for corn.
GIBBAV-8, NSHS USDA
Chemical
Common seed fungicides have been effective.
CABI CPC
2025-10-23 14:45:40
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Fernandez, M. R., Holzgang, G., 2009. Fungal populations in subcrown internodes and crowns of oat crops in Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 89(3) 549-557.
Bucur, D. E., Doohan, F., & Kildea, S. (2025). Prevalence and Diversity of Fusarium Species in Oat Grains Harvested From Commercial Oat Fields in Ireland in 2022. Plant Pathology.
Morcia, C., Terzi, V., Ghizzoni, R., Carrara, I., & Gazzetti, K. (2024). Looking for Fusarium Resistance in Oats: An Update. Agronomy, 14(3), 505. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030505
Singh, D. V., Mathur, S. B. and Neergaard, P. 1974. Seed health testing of maize. Evaluation of testing techniques with particular reference to Drechslera maydis. Seed Sci. Technol. 2:349-365.
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Beta vulgaris
table beet, swiss chard
No
GIBBAV-4, CABI CPC
Gibberella avenacea can occasionally infect Beta vulgaris, mainly as a secondary or opportunistic pathogen, causing root or seedling rot. It can spread via plant debris and soil.
2025-10-23 14:06:27
Brassica oleracea vars.
broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts
No
GIBBAV-4, GIBBAV-6, GIBBAV-20, GIBBAV-21, GIBBAV-22, GIBBAV-23
Gibberella avenaceum is a common soilborne fungus that can sometimes infect cabbage and broccoli, causing head rot in storage and rarely in the field. It has not been reported to spread via seed in Brassica oleracea.
2025-10-23 15:18:03
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Neergaard P., 1977. Seed Pathology. vol. I and II. The McMillian Press, London, UK
Robak, J., Czubatka, A., Czajka, A., Smolinska, U., 2014. First report of cabbage head rot caused by Fusarium avenaceum in Poland.Plant Disease, 98(12) 1741-1742.
Booth, C. (1977). Fusarium: laboratory guide to the identification of the major species. Commonwealth Mycological Institute: Kew (UK).
Booth, C. and Waterston, J.M. (1964). Fusarium avenaceum. IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria, No. 3, Sheet 25. International Mycological Institute: Kew (UK).
Burgess, L.W. and Liddell, C.M. (1983). Laboratory manual for Fusarium research. Fusarium Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology and Agricultural Entomology. The University of Sydney, Australia.
Cucurbita spp.
squash, pumpkin, gourd
Uncertain
GIBBAV-4
Gibberella avenacea is a ubiquitous soilborne pathogen. Cucurbita spp. fruits are susceptible to infection by G. avenacea. Some references make general statements that it may be seedborne, but no references were found proving that seed is a pathway in Cucurbita spp.
Yes
Blotter
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter for corn.
NSHS USDA
Chemical
Fungicides have shown to be effective.
CABI CPC
2025-10-23 15:22:38
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Daucus carota
carrot
No
GIBBAV-4, CABI CPC, GIBBAV-25, GIBBAV-26
Giberella avenacea causes root rots in carrots, but no evidence was found that the seed is a pathway in carrots.
2025-10-23 14:43:39
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Stankovic I, Milojevic K, Vucurovic A, Nikolic D, Krstic B, Bulajic A, 2015. First report of fusarium root rot of stored carrot caused by Fusarium avenaceum in Serbia. Plant Disease, 99(2):286.
Moullec-Rieu, T. le, Chateau, C., Pascouau, C., Bastide, F., Hamon, B., Poupard, P., Laurent, E., Gombert, J., Morel, E., Sérandat, I., Guillermin, P. L., Brandeis, P. E., Mallard, S., 2020. First report of root and collar rot caused by Fusarium tricinctum and Fusarium avenaceum on carrot in France.Plant Disease, 104(2) 591-591.
Hordeum vulgare
barley
Yes
GIBBAV-13, GIBBAV-4, CABI CPC, GIBBAV-17, GIBBAV-18, GIBBAV-19
Gibberella avenacea is a common pathogen of barley, where it can cause seedling blight, root and crown rot, and Fusarium head blight, leading to reduced germination, stunted growth, and yield losses. It spreads via contaminated seed, soil, crop residues, rain splash, and wind, and can also produce mycotoxins.
Yes
Blotter
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter for corn
GIBBAV-8, NSHS USDA
Fungicides
Common seed fungicides have been effective.
CABI CPC
2025-10-23 16:00:09
Hacking A., Rosser, W., & Dervish, M. 1976. Zearalenone‐producing species of Fusarium on barley seed. Annals of Applied Biology, 84:7-11.
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Inbaia, S., Farooqi, A., & Ray, R. V. (2023). Aggressiveness and mycotoxin profile of Fusarium avenaceum isolates causing Fusarium seedling blight and Fusarium head blight in UK malting barley. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1121553.
Bourdages, J. V., Marchand, S., Rioux, S., Belzile, F. J., 2006. Diversity and prevalence of Fusarium species from Quebec barley fields.Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 28(3) 419-425.
Howard, R. J., Ferris, K., 2021. An inaugural survey of cereal, oilseed and vegetable crop diseases in the Yukon Territory in 2020.Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 43Suppl. 1S179-S182
Singh, D. V., Mathur, S. B. and Neergaard, P. 1974. Seed health testing of maize. Evaluation of testing techniques with particular reference to Drechslera maydis. Seed Sci. Technol. 2:349-365.
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Secale cereale
rye
No
GIBBAV-4, CABI CPC
Gibberella avenacea can infect rye, causing root and crown rot or head blight, but its ability to transmit through rye seed has not been demonstrated.
Yes
Blotter
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter for corn
NSHS USDA
Chemical
Common seed fungicides have been effective for other grains
CABI CPC
2025-10-23 16:28:14
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Sorghum bicolor
sorghum
No
GIBBAV-1, GIBBAV-4
Gibberella avenacea can infect sorghum, causing root and crown rot or head blight, but its ability to transmit through sorghum seed has not been demonstrated.
Yes
Blotter
NSHS: METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter
NSHS USDA
chemical
Common seed fungicides have been effective for other grains.
CABI CPC
2025-10-23 16:30:17
Gibberella avenacea In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Triticum aestivum
wheat
Uncertain
GIBBAV-10, GIBBAV-9, CABI CPC, GIBBAV-38, GIBBAV-39, GIBBAV-43, GIBBAV-44, GIBBAV-45
Gibberella avenacea infects wheat, causing seedling blight, root and crown rot, and Fusarium head blight. It can be present on wheat seed and harvested grain, indicating potential for seedborne transmission, but consistent seed-to-seedling infection under field conditions. Duben and Fehrmann (1980) demonstrated transmission using artificially inoculated seed. No reports of natural seed transmission were confirmed.
Yes
Blotter
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter
GIBBAV-8, NSHS USDA
Chemical
Common seed fungicides have been effective.
CABI CPC
2025-10-23 16:32:33
Duthie JA; Hall R; Asselin AV, 1986. Fusarium species from seed of winter wheat in eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 8:282-288
Duben J; Fehrmann H, 1980. Occurrence and pathogenicity of Fusarium species on winter wheat in the German Federal Republic III. Relation between infection of the haulm base and the ear. Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenkrankheiten und Pflanzenschutz, 87:1-12
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Sharifi, K., Zare, R., Zamanizadeh, H. R., Mirabolfathy, M., Rezaee, S., 2016. Identification of Fusarium species associated with Fusarium head blight of wheat in the North of Iran and phylogenetic analysis of the dominant species.Rostaniha, 17(2) 173-187.
Brown, M., Jayaweera, D. P., Hunt, A., Woodhall, J. W., Ray, R. V. (2021). Yield losses and control by sedaxane and fludioxonil of soilborne rhizoctonia, microdochium, and fusarium species in winter wheat. Plant Dis. 105 (9), 2521–2530.
Moreira, G. M., Machado, F. J., Pereira, C. B., Neves, D. L., Tessmann, D. J., Ward, T. J., & Del Ponte, E. M. (2020). First report of the Fusarium tricinctum species complex causing Fusarium head blight of wheat in Brazil. Plant Disease, 104(2), 586-586.
Agustí-Brisach, C., Raya-Ortega, M. C., Trapero, C., Roca, L. F., Luque, F., López-Moral, A., Fuentes, M., Trapero, A., 2018. First report of Fusarium pseudograminearum causing crown rot of wheat in Europe.Plant Disease, 102(8) 1670.
Matelionienė, N., Supronienė, S., Shamshitov, A., Zavtrikovienė, E., Janavičienė, S., & Kadžienė, G. (2022). Weeds in Cereal Crop Rotations May Host Fusarium Species That Cause Fusarium Head Blight and Grain Weight Losses in Wheat. Agronomy, 12(11), 2741. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112741
Singh, D. V., Mathur, S. B. and Neergaard, P. 1974. Seed health testing of maize. Evaluation of testing techniques with particular reference to Drechslera maydis. Seed Sci. Technol. 2:349-365.
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Zea mays
corn
Uncertain
GIBBAV-4, GIBBAV-7, CABI CPC, GIBBAV-28, GIBBAV-29, GIBBAV-30, GIBBAV-31, GIBBAV-32, GIBBAV-33, GIBBAV-34, GIBBAV-35, GIBBAV-36, GIBBAV-37
Gibberella avenacea can infect corn and is one of several Fusarium species associated with red ear rot (Gibberella ear rot). The fungus survives on corn debris, producing spores that spread via wind and rain splash. Although it can be present on corn seed, evidence that seed is a pathway has not been verified under natural conditions, making its role as a seed-transmitted pathogen uncertain.
Yes
Blotter
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter
GIBBAV-8, NSHS USDA
Chemical
Fungicide treatments have shown to be effective.
GIBBAV-11, GIBBAV-12
2025-10-23 17:07:42
Richardson MJ, 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Disease. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich, Switzerland
Bottalico A; Logrieco A; Visconti A, 1989. Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in infected corn in Italy. Mycopathologia, 107:85-92
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Pintos Varela, C., Aguín Casal, O., Chaves Padin, M., Ferreiroa Martinez, V., Sainz Oses, M. J., Scauflaire, J., Munaut, F., Bande Castro, M. J., Mansilla Vázquez, J. P., 2013. First report of Fusarium temperatum causing seedling blight and stalk rot on maize in Spain. Plant Disease, 97(9) 1252-1253.
Mesterhazy, A., Lemmens, M. and Reid, L.M., 2012. Breeding for resistance to ear rots caused by Fusarium spp. in maize - a review. Plant Breeding, 131(1), pp.1-19.
Logrieco, A., Mule, G., Moretti, A. and Bottalico, A., 2002. Toxigenic Fusarium species and mycotoxins associated with maize ear rot in Europe. Mycotoxins in plant disease, pp.597-609.
Logrieco, Antonio, Bottalico, Antoniom, Mulé, Giuseppina, Moretti, Antonio, and Perrone, Giancarlo. 2003. Epidemiology of toxigenic fungi and their associated mycotoxins for some Mediterranean crops. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 109, pp.645-667.
Coninck, E., Scauflaire, J., Gollier, M., Liénard, C., Foucart, G., Manssens, G., Munaut, F. and Legrève, A., 2020. Trichoderma atroviride as a promising biocontrol agent in seed coating for reducing Fusarium damping-off on maize. Journal of applied microbiology, 129(3), pp.637-651.
Turner, A.S., Lees, A.K., Rezanoor, H.N. and Nicholson, P., 1998. Refinement of PCR detection of Fusarium avenaceum and evidence from DNA marker studies for phenetic relatedness to Fusarium tricinctum. Plant pathology, 47(3), pp.278-288.
Pollard, A.T. and Okubara, P.A., 2019. Real-time PCR quantification of Fusarium avenaceum in soil and seeds. Journal of microbiological methods, 157, pp.21-30.
Anna, K.M., 2016. Evaluation of selected seed treatment methods for the control of Fusarium graminearum and F. avenaceum on wheat seeds. Journal of Agricultural Technology, Zhejiang, 12(4), pp.731-741.
Parry, D.W., Jenkinson, P. and McLeod, L., 1995. Fusarium ear blight (scab) in small grain cereals - a review. Plant pathology, 44(2), pp.207-238.
Pirgozliev, S.R., Edwards, S.G., Hare, M.C. and Jenkinson, P., 2003. Strategies for the control of Fusarium head blight in cereals. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 109(7), pp.731-742.
Singh, D. V., Mathur, S. B. and Neergaard, P. 1974. Seed health testing of maize. Evaluation of testing techniques with particular reference to Drechslera maydis. Seed Sci. Technol. 2:349-365.
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
McGee DC; Kellock AW, 1974. Fusarium avenaceum, a seed-borne pathogen of subterranean clover roots. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 25:549-557.
Hutcheon JA; Jordan VWL, 1992. Fungicide timing and performance for Fusarium control in wheat. Brighton Crop Protection Conference, Pests and Diseases ,Vol. 2., 633-638
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