Gibberella zeae
Gibberella ear rot, headblight of maize
Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium roseum, Fusarium roseum f.sp. cerealis, Fusarium roseum var. graminearum, Gibbera saubinettii, Gibberella saubinetii, Sphaeria zeae Schwein.
Worldwide
Widespread
2025-12-03
fungus
Thailand
Primarily a cereal grain pathogen with a wide host range. Main: oats, soybean, barley, flax, lupins, rice, rye, sorghum wheat, corn; Other: sugarbeet, brassica, ryegrass, pea, clover, faba bean.
GIBBZE
Gibberella zeae causes Fusarium head blight in cereals. This disease is most prevalent in regions with frequent rainfall and moderate temperatures. It overwinters in infected crop residues and spreads mainly by airborne ascospores that infect cereal heads during flowering, as well as rain-splashed conidia. Seed can carry the fungus, but it is a minor pathway.
Crops
Avena sativa
oat
uncertain
GIBBZE-15, GIBBZE-17, CABI CPC, GIBBZE-38, GIBBZE-39
Gibberella zeae infects oats, causing Fusarium head blight and contaminating grain. Infection occurs mainly during flowering, with spores spreading via wind and rain-splash. While the fungus can be detected on harvested kernels, its role in seedborne transmission to seedlings is unproven.
No
Culture plating and blotter incubation have been described for corn (NSHS USDA)
Chemical, cultural
Using clean seed, crop rotation, residue management, and reducing conditions that favor seedling infection.
CABI CPC
2025-12-03 12:51:46
Clear RM, Patrick SK, Platford RG and Desjardins M. 1996. Occurrence and distribution of Fusarium species in barley and oat seed from Manitoba in 1993 and 1994. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 18:409-414
Richardson, MJ. 1970. Gibberella zeae on Oats in Scotland, 1967–1969. Plant Pathology 19:104-106
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Islam MN, Tabassum M, Banik M, Daayf F, Fernando WGD, Harris LJ, Sura S, Wang X. Naturally Occurring Fusarium Species and Mycotoxins in Oat Grains from Manitoba, Canada. Toxins (Basel). 2021 Sep 18;13(9):670.
Tekle, S., Dill-Macky, R., Skinnes, H., Tronsmo, A. M., & Bjørnstad, Å. (2012). Infection process of Fusarium graminearum in oats (Avena sativa L.). European Journal of Plant Pathology, 132(3), 431-442.
Glycine max
soybean
Yes
GIBBZE-10, GIBBZE-11, GIBBZE-12, CABI CPC, GIBBZE-33, GIBBZE-34, GIBBZE-35, GIBBZE-36, GIBBZE-37
Gibberella zeae can infect soybean, causing seed decay, root or seedling rot, and colonization of pods and seeds under favorable conditions. However, its impact in the field is generally low and inconsistent, making it an opportunistic rather than a major pathogen on soybean.
No
Culture plate, blotter
Culture plating and blotter incubation have been described for corn thrugh NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter (Singh et al., 1974) (formerly Cf 8.2)
NSHS USDA
Chemical, cultural
Using clean seed, crop rotation, residue management, and reducing conditions that favor seedling infection.
GIBBZE-11, GIBBZE-12
2025-12-03 11:53:18
Nelson, BD. 2015. Fusarium Seed Rot and Fusarium Species Associated with Seed. In, Compendium of Soybean Diseases and Pests, Fifth Edition.eds. Hartman GL, Rupe JC, Sikora EJ, Domier LL, Davis JA and Steffey KL. APS Press, St. Paul MN, USA
Broders, KD, Lipps, PE, Paul, PA, and Dorrance, AE. 2007. Evaluation of Fusarium graminearum associated with corn and soybean seed and seedling disease in Ohio. Plant Dis. 91:1155-1160.
Ellis, L., Broders, KD., Paul, PA. and Dorrance, AE. 2011. Infection of soybean seed by Fusarium graminearum and effect of
seed treatments on disease under controlled conditions. Plant Dis. 95:401- 407.
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Wu L, Hwang SF, Strelkov SE, Fredua-Agyeman R, Oh SH, Bélanger RR, Wally O, Kim YM. Pathogenicity, Host Resistance, and Genetic Diversity of FusariumSpecies under Controlled Conditions from Soybean in Canada. J Fungi (Basel). 2024 Apr 23;10(5):303.
Zhao L., Wei X., Zheng T., Gou Y.-N., Wang J., Deng J.-X., Li M. Evaluation of Pathogenic Fusarium Spp. Associated with Soybean Seed (Glycine max L.) in Hubei Province, China. Plant Dis. 2022;106:3178–3186.
Pioli RN, Mozzoni L, Morandi EN. First Report of Pathogenic Association Between Fusarium graminearum and Soybean. Plant Dis. 2004 Feb;88(2):220.
Barros G.G., Zanon M.S.A., Chiotta M.L., Reynoso M.M., Scandiani M.M., Chulze S.N. Pathogenicity of phylogenetic species in the Fusarium graminearum complex on soybean seedlings in Argentina. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 2014;138:215–222.
Chiotta, M. L., Alaniz Zanon, M. S., Palazzini, J. M., Alberione, E., Barros, G. G., & Chulze, S. N. (2021). Fusarium graminearum species complex occurrence on soybean and F. graminearum sensu stricto inoculum maintenance on residues in soybean‐wheat rotation under field conditions. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 130(1), 208-216.
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Hordeum vulgare
barley
No
GIBBZE-14, GIBBZE-15, GIBBZE-17, CABI CPC, GIBBZE-38, GIBBZE-39, GIBBZE-41
Gibberella zeae Infects barley primarily during flowering, when airborne spores from infected crop residues or rain-splashed conidia land on the florets. While the fungus can be detected on harvested kernels, seedborne transmission to seedlings is unproven.
No
Chemical, cultural
Using clean seed, crop rotation, residue management, and reducing conditions that favor seedling infection.
GIBBZE-1, GIBBZE-14
2025-12-03 13:04:35
Mihuta-Grimm L, and Forster RL, 1989. Scab of wheat and barley in southern Idaho and evaluation of seed treatments for eradication of Fusarium spp. Plant Disease, 73:769-771
Clear RM, Patrick SK, Platford RG and Desjardins M. 1996. Occurrence and distribution of Fusarium species in barley and oat seed from Manitoba in 1993 and 1994. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 18:409-414
Richardson, MJ. 1970. Gibberella zeae on Oats in Scotland, 1967–1969. Plant Pathology 19:104-106
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Islam MN, Tabassum M, Banik M, Daayf F, Fernando WGD, Harris LJ, Sura S, Wang X. Naturally Occurring Fusarium Species and Mycotoxins in Oat Grains from Manitoba, Canada. Toxins (Basel). 2021 Sep 18;13(9):670.
Tekle, S., Dill-Macky, R., Skinnes, H., Tronsmo, A. M., & Bjørnstad, Å. (2012). Infection process of Fusarium graminearum in oats (Avena sativa L.). European Journal of Plant Pathology, 132(3), 431-442.
Xue, A.G.; Chen, Y.H.; Seifert, K.; Guo, W.; Blackwell, B.A.; Harris, L.J.; Overy, D.P. Prevalence of Fusariumspecies causing head blight of spring wheat, barley and oat in Ontario during 2001–2017. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 2019, 41, 392–402.
Gibberella zeae. In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Oryza sativa
rice
No
GIBBZE-17, GIBBZE-18, CABI CPC, GIBBZE-42, GIBBZE-43
Gibberella zeae can infect rice, particularly the flowering heads, and may cause grain rot or shriveling under favorable conditions. It is mainly spread through infected debris. However, its impact on rice is inconsistent and seedborne transmission is unproven.
Culture plating and blotter incubation have been described for corn (NSHS USDA)
Chemical, cultural
Using clean seed, crop rotation, residue management, and reducing conditions that favor seedling infection.
CABI CPC
2025-12-03 13:20:42
Richardson, MJ. 1970. Gibberella zeae on Oats in Scotland, 1967–1969. Plant Pathology 19:104-106
Devi RKT and Singh NI. 1995. Survival of fusarial sheath rot fungi of rice. Plant Disease Research, 10:91-95
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Goswami, R.S. and Kistler, H.C. (2002) Assessment of the differential ability of Fusarium strains to spread on wheat and rice. 2002 National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proceedings. East Lansing: Michigan State University, p. 163.
Goswami, R. S., & Kistler, H. C. (2004). Heading for disaster: Fusarium graminearum on cereal crops. Molecular plant pathology, 5(6), 515-525.
Secale cereale
rye
No
No references were found, indicating that rye seed is a pathway.
2025-12-03 11:30:33
Sorghum bicolor
sorghum
No
No references found indicating that sorghum seed is a pathway.
2025-12-03 11:29:50
Triticum aestivum
wheat
Yes
GIBBZE-10, GIBBZE-6, GIBBZE-7, GIBBZE-8, CABI CPC, GIBBZE-30, GIBBZE-31, GIBBZE-32
Gibberella zeae causes Fusarium head blight in wheat. The primary inoculum comes from spores produced on infected crop residues, spreading mainly by wind-borne spores and rain-splash. The fungus can be seedborne, and transmission from infected seed to seedlings has been demonstrated.
Yes
Culture plating, Grow out, Blotter paper
These tests have not been validated or standardized.
GIBBZE-7
Chemical, cultural
Control focuses on residue management, resistant hybrids, and timely fungicides.
GIBBZE-8, GIBBZE-9, CABI CPC
2025-12-03 11:21:43
Nelson, BD. 2015. Fusarium Seed Rot and Fusarium Species Associated with Seed. In, Compendium of Soybean Diseases and Pests, Fifth Edition.eds. Hartman GL, Rupe JC, Sikora EJ, Domier LL, Davis JA and Steffey KL. APS Press, St. Paul MN, USA
Duthie JA; Hall R, 1987. Transmission of Fusarium graminearum from seed to stems of winter wheat. Plant Pathology, 36:33-37
Halfon-Meiri A; Kulik MM; Schoen JF, 1979. Studies on Gibberella zeae carried by wheat seeds produced in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Seed Science and Technology, 7(3):439-448
Forcelini CA; Reis EM, 1988. Control of Helminthosporium sativum, Septoria nodorum, Fusarium graminearum and Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici by fungicide treatment of wheat seeds. Fitopatologia Brasileira, 13:28-31
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Moretti, A., Panzarini, G., Somma, S., Campagna, C., Ravaglia, S., Logrieco, A. F., & Solfrizzo, M. (2014). Systemic Growth of F. graminearum in Wheat Plants and Related Accumulation of Deoxynivalenol. Toxins, 6(4), 1308-1324.
Argyris, J., Van Sanford, D., & TeKrony, D. (2003). Fusarium graminearum infection during wheat seed development and its effect on seed quality. Crop Science, 43(5), 1782-1788.
Khan, A. M., Khan, M., Salman, H. M., Ghazali, H. M. Z. U., Ali, R. I., Hussain, M., ... & Nabeel, M. (2023). Detection of seed-borne fungal pathogens associated with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds collected from farmer fields and grain market. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 35(4), 102590.
Diehl JA; Reis EM, 1983. Effect of wheat seed treatment with fungicides on the control of Fusarium graminearum.. Fitopatologia Brasileira, 8:363-366
Zea mays
corn
Yes
GIBBZE-2, GIBBZE-4, GIBBZE-5, CABI CPC, GIBBZE-20, GIBBZE-21, GIBBZE-22, GIBBZE-23, GIBBZE-24, GIBBZE-26, GIBBZE-27, GIBBZE-28
Gibberella zeae causes Gibberella ear rot and stalk rot. In corn, the primary inoculum comes from spores produced on infected crop residues, spreading mainly by wind-borne spores and rain-splash. The fungus can be seedborne, and transmission from infected kernels to seedlings has been demonstrated in studies, sometimes causing seedling rot or reduced vigor. However, in field conditions, seed transmission is considered a minor pathway compared to residue-borne and airborne inoculum, especially when seed is properly cleaned and conditioned.
Yes
Blotter
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter (Singh et al., 1974) (formerly Cf 8.2)
NSHS METHOD: Mz 7.1 Blotter
NSHS USDA
Chemical, cultural
Control focuses on residue management, resistant hybrids, and timely fungicides.
CABI CPC, GIBBZE-25
2025-12-03 09:54:55
McGee, DC. 1988. Maize Diseases: A reference Source for Seed Technologists. APS Press, St. Paul, MN USA. 150 pp.
Kabeere F; Hampton JG; Hill MJ, 1997. Transmission of Fusarium graminearum (Schwabe) from maize seeds to seedlings. Seed Science and Technology, 25:245-252.
Abbas HK; Mirocha CJ, 1986. Survival of Fusarium graminearum on corn stored at low temperature. Plant Disease, 70:78
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Galli, J. A., Fessel, S. A., & Panizzi, R. C. (2005). Effect of Fusarium graminearum and infection index on germination and vigor of maize seeds. Fitopatologia Brasileira, 30, 470-474.
Arata, A. F., Martínez, M., Castellari, C., Cristos, D., Pesquero, N. V., & Dinolfo, M. I. (2024). Impact of Fusarium spp. on different maize commercial hybrids: disease evaluation and mycotoxin contamination. Fungal Biology, 128(6), 1983-1991.
Dinolfo, M. I., Martínez, M., Castañares, E., & Arata, A. F. (2022). Fusarium in maize during harvest and storage: A review of species involved, mycotoxins, and management strategies to reduce contamination. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 164(2), 151-166.
Gimeno, A., Kägi, A., Drakopoulos, D., Bänziger, I., Lehmann, E., Forrer, H. R., Keller, B., & Vogelgsang, S. (2020). From laboratory to the field: Biological control of Fusarium graminearum on infected maize crop residues. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 129(3), 680–694.
Manstretta, V. and Rossi, V. 2015. Effects of temperature and moisture on development of Fusarium graminearum perithecia in maize stalk residues. Plant Microbiology. 82(1):184–191.
Munkvold, G.P., 2009. Seed pathology progress in academia and industry. Annual review of phytopathology, 47, pp.285-311.
Leplat, J., Friberg, H., Abid, M. and Steinberg, C., 2013. Survival of Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight. A review. Agronomy for sustainable development, 33(1), pp.97-111.
Goswami, R.S. and Kistler, H.C., 2004. Heading for disaster: Fusarium graminearum on cereal crops. Molecular plant pathology, 5(6), pp.515-525.
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
Munkvold, G.P. and O'mara, J.K., 2002. Laboratory and growth chamber evaluation of fungicidal seed treatments for maize seedling blight caused by Fusarium species. Plant disease, 86(2), pp.143-150
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