F usarium cerealis Associated with Barley Seeds in A rgentina

Fusarium head blight is a fungal disease caused by a complex of F usarium species on cereals, such as barley and wheat. It has economic impacts due to yield reductions and mycotoxin contamination. As barley production has increased considerably in the last 5 years in A rgentina, a survey was conducted for identifying F usarium species associated with barley grains. F usarium cerealis was isolated and identified based on morphological and molecular analysis. The potential production of nivalenol and zearalenone was assessed using specific PCR assays. K och′s postulates were carried out to confirm the pathogenicity of the fungus.