Alberta Fusarium graminearum Management Plan

• Objectives
• Regulatory status
• Risk of the spread of Fusarium graminearum into Alberta
• Mycotoxin production
  i. Importance to livestock
  ii. Importance in food
• Management plan rationale
• Management of Fusarium graminearum
  1. Cereal grains intended for use as seed
  2. Management of Fusarium graminearum in cereal grains and cereal grain products intended for use as feed
  3. Management of Fusarium graminearum infested fields
• Transportation of cereal grain
• Responsibilities
  1. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AARD)
  2. Agricultural Service Boards
  3. Landowner/Occupant
  4. Feed Lot Operators
  5. Trucking Industry
  6. Fusarium Action Committee
• Appendix I Biology of Fusarium graminearum
• Appendix II Field Sampling for Fusarium Head Blight
• Appendix III Protocol for Testing Cereal Seed
• Appendix IV Protocol for Sampling Cereal Seed
• Appendix V Management of Fusarium graminearum in feed cereal grains
• Glossary
  

Developed by the Provincial Fusarium Action Committee August 2002 (updated May 2009).

Objectives

1. Prevent the establishment of Fusarium graminearum in Alberta.
2. Prevent the increase and spread of Fusarium graminearum should it be found in Alberta.

Regulatory Status

Fusarium graminearum has been a declared pest under Alberta’s Agricultural Pests Act since 1999. Alberta’s Agricultural Pests Act is the legislative authority for enforcement of control measures for named pests in Alberta.

Pest inspectors may be appointed by the local municipality or by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. By virtue of the office, an Agricultural Fieldman is a pest inspector under the Agricultural Pests Act. Pest inspectors have the power to enter land at a reasonable hour, without permission, to inspect for pests and collect samples.

The owner or occupant of land has the responsibility of taking measures to prevent the establishment of pest on land, property and livestock and to control or destroy all pests on or in the land, property or livestock.

Enforcement of pest control measures is the responsibility of the municipal authority; the Agricultural Fieldman is responsible for enforcing pest control measures in their municipality.

The control measures for Fusarium graminearum are specified in this management plan. It is important to understand that these control measures represent the minimum standard that is to be applied in all municipalities across the province. Municipalities have the authority to increase the level of control for any named pest in their municipality.

Risk of the Spread of Fusarium graminearum into Alberta

The presence of a virulent pathogen in sufficient quantity is a requirement for the development of disease. All survey information currently available demonstrates that Fusarium graminearum is not commonly found in Alberta.

A progressive field-to-field yearly spread of Fusarium graminearum could theoretically eventually bring large quantities of Fusarium graminearum into Alberta; however, this process would likely take 10 to 20 years. The long distance spread of wind-borne ascospores in “spore clouds” into Alberta from eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba is also improbable. Dispersal of ascospores occurs over relatively short distances. Ascospore survival is significantly reduced after exposure to the UV radiation that would be encountered by an airborne ascospore. It is expected that less than 1% ascospore survival would occur after 3 days of field exposure to natural UV radiation from the sun.

Alberta’s environment is not a barrier to the establishment of Fusarium graminearum in this province. Once the pathogen establishes, it will readily overwinter on infected crop residue.

Fusarium graminearum is a seedborne pathogen, and infected seed or feed grain represents the greatest risk of introducing Fusarium graminearum in quantities sufficient to cause disease development.

Mycotoxin Production

Fusarium graminearum produces mycotoxins including deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone. The presence of these mycotoxins reduces the marketability of grain. DON can cause reduced feed intake and food refusal. Livestock and poultry are susceptible to DON. Zearalenone has estrogenic effects, and depending on the concentration, ingestion can result in reproductive dysfunctions. Lightweight shriveled fusarium damaged kernels, may contain high concentrations of the mycotoxin DON. Levels as high as 30 parts per million (ppm) in wheat and barley have been detected.

i. Importance to livestock
In non-ruminants, such as hogs, contamination of feed grain with 1 ppm of DON can result in reduced feed consumption and, consequently, a reduction in growth. At high concentrations of 5 ppm or more, feed refusal can occur. Young pigs are more susceptible to the effects of DON and may exhibit feed refusal with dietary concentrations of less than 1 ppm. Most hog producers now have a zero tolerance for DON.

Adult beef cattle can tolerate higher levels of DON without known detrimental effects. Some studies have shown that beef cattle can feed on grain that has up to 12 ppm of DON, but calves may have problems at lower levels of contamination.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada guidelines for acceptable feed are 1 ppm for swine, dairy cattle and horses and 5 ppm for beef cattle, sheep and poultry.

ii. Importance in food
The presence of DON will also affect the production of beer. The mycotoxin affects the taste of beer and causes gushing or excess foaming. Malting companies will reject barley lots suspected of containing detectable levels of DON. Most malting companies now insist on non-detectable levels of Fusarium graminearum and test for DON before purchasing barley.

Bread making is also affected by the mycotoxin DON. The flour changes colour, and the bread does not rise normally. The baking process does not destroy DON. Several methods, both chemical and physical, have been studied as potential methods of detoxifying DON. There is no easy way to reduce the toxicity of the contaminated kernels.

Management plan rationale

The most desirable approach to managing Fusarium graminearum in Alberta is through a proactive program designed to prevent the entry of this pathogen in the province. This approach would require non-detectable levels of Fusarium graminearum in all grain coming into the province.

In an attempt to minimize the risk of the establishment of Fusarium graminearum in the province and to address the needs of all sectors of the industry, a non-detectable level of Fusarium graminearum approach will not be applied to the entire industry. In light of Alberta’s current feed barley deficit situation, a non-detectable level of Fusarium graminearum approach in feed grain is not feasible. Fusarium graminearum in cereal seed must be at non-detectable levels. There will be management practices for handling cereal grain and cereal grain products including screenings and pellet feed used as feed that have not been tested and found to have non-detectable levels of Fusarium graminearum.

The long-term goal of this response plan is to prevent or delay the establishment of Fusarium graminearum in Alberta at least until Fusarium graminearum resistant wheat and barley varieties are developed.

Management of Fusarium graminearum

Where reference is made to a certificate of laboratory analysis certifying that a grain sample was found to be free of Fusarium graminearum, it is recognized that this does not guarantee that Fusarium graminearum was not present, only that it was not found. For this reason pre-plant fungicide seed treatments for Fusarium graminearum are also required for seed imported into Alberta.

1. Cereal grains intended for use as seed.
To prevent the movement of Fusarium graminearum infected seed and the introduction of Fusarium graminearum into Alberta fields from infected seed.

1. All cereal grain intended for use as seed in Alberta must be accompanied by a laboratory certificate showing that the seed lot in question was tested and found to have non-detectable levels of Fusarium graminearum
2. All cereal grain intended for use as seed in Alberta must also be treated with a registered fungicide, prior to planting, that includes the genus Fusarium on the label list of fungi that are controlled.
3. It is recommended that cereal grain intended for use as seed that is grown in Alberta also be treated with a registered fungicide, prior to planting, that includes the genus Fusarium on the label list of fungi that are controlled.
4. The report of laboratory analysis certifying that a representative sample of the lot of cereal grain intended for use as seed was tested according to the accepted protocol and found to have non-detectable levels of Fusarium graminearum must accompany the lot and be available for inspection at any time during the transportation and handling of the lot.
5. The end user of the cereal grain intended for use as seed must maintain the reports of laboratory analysis certifying that each lot of cereal grain intended for use as seed brought in by the end user was found to have non-detectable levels of Fusarium graminearum. These certificates must be readily available for inspection.
6. Cereal grain intended for use as seed that tests positive for Fusarium graminearum must be properly and effectively disposed of. These lots may be sold for food or feed, but treated (fungicide or insecticide) lots must be disposed of and buried in a landfill. If the cereal grain is sold as feed, it must be handled in accordance with Section VII-2.
7. If cereal fields are found to have been planted with cereal seed infected with Fusarium graminearum, the fields will be subject to the control measures outlined in Section VII-3 – Management of Fusarium graminearum infested fields.

1. Out-of-province feed grain must not be stored in uncovered piles or in contact with the soil.
2. All loading/unloading sites handling out-of-province feed grain must use both a wind fence and drop sock when loading or unloading grain to prevent grain or grain dust blow-off from the loading/unloading site. A covered loading/unloading facility is preferred.
3. Out-of-province feed grain must be unloaded in such a manner such that spillage does not occur. Grain must not come in contact with the soil.
4. All modes of transport of out-of-province grain must be securely covered to prevent spillage of grain during transport.
5. All transport vehicles/units hauling out-of-province grain must have the box/trailers/cars thoroughly swept clean of any residual grain and gates closed before being allowed to leave the unloading site. The sweepings must be placed in a compost site such that the grain reaches a temperature of 60 to 70 ^oC for two weeks.
6. Out-of-province grain must not come in contact with the soil during feeding. Range feeding livestock is not recommended. Bunk feeding is the preferred method.
7. If grain is spilled at any time during the feeding/handling process, it must be completely recovered and composted such that the grain reaches a temperature of 60 to 70 ^oC for two weeks.

1. Prior to maturity, infested crops must be cut and ensiled immediately. Ensure that the load is securely covered to prevent spillage during transport. The silage can then be fed to cattle in such a way as to prevent spillage of the silage onto the soil.
2. In mature crops, the grain can be harvested and fed to cattle. Ensure that the load is securely covered to prevent spillage during transport.
3. Remove any loose crop residue from all equipment before leaving an infested field.
4. Control volunteer cereals and grassy weeds on infested land, including headlands.
5. Keep Fusarium graminearum infested land in non-host crops such as canola, alfalfa, clover or pea for a minimum of three years following the detection of the disease.
6. Do not use corn in rotation with small grain cereals. Corn is also a host of Fusarium graminearum, where it causes seed rots, seedling blight, root rot, stalk rot and ear rot. Research has shown that Fusarium graminearum and mycotoxin levels in harvested grain are higher for small grain cereals grown in rotation with corn.
7. After a three-year rotation, disease-free cereal seed from a cultivar that has low susceptibility to, or resistance to Fusarium graminearum and is treated with a recommended fungicide can be planted.

1. All cereal grains, including seed, transported in the province must be securely covered. No grain is to be allowed to blow off the vehicle while in transport. Vehicles with unsecured loads of grain will be impounded until the load is securely covered.
2. If during the transportation and handling process, cereal grain for use as seed imported into the province is found to be either not treated with a fungicide or not accompanied with a certificate of laboratory analysis, then the seed will be impounded until the certificate of laboratory analysis can be obtained or the appropriate seed treatment is arranged or both.
3. Cereal grain intended for use as seed that is trans-shipped through Alberta is exempt from the requirement of a certificate of laboratory analysis if the load is not handled or redistributed from a facility in Alberta and the load is securely covered.
4. Cereal grain intended for use as feed that is trans-shipped through Alberta and is handled for redistribution at a facility in Alberta must be handled in accordance with the management practices for feed grain (Section VII-2).

1. Pest Surveillance Branch will co-ordinate the Alberta Fusarium graminearum Management Plan.
2. Pest Surveillance Branch will provide regulatory consultation and training.
3. Prepare and provide technical information on Fusarium graminearum control recommendations to inspectors and field staff.
4. Provide training in disease identification and management.
5. Will evaluate the Alberta Fusarium graminearum Management Plan as required.

1. Provide support and resources to the Agricultural Fieldmen in carrying out their duties.
2. Agricultural Fieldmen will monitor their municipality for Fusarium graminearum, particularly in areas of trace infestation or around cattle feed lots.
3. Enforce control measures as necessary to meet the objectives of the Alberta Fusarium graminearum Management Plan.
4. Provide recommendations and information to farmers on disease prevention and control.
5. Conduct field surveys and maintain records of infestations.

1. Provide a forum to represent the interests and views of the Alberta agriculture industry regarding the management of Fusarium graminearum.
2. Recommend management strategies for Fusarium graminearum for inclusion in the Alberta Fusarium graminearum Management Plan.
3. Educate the Alberta agriculture industry about Fusarium graminearum and the threat that it represents to Alberta

Ascospore - a spore produced as a result of the sexual process.

Cereal - a grass grown for its edible seed, includes corn.

Conidia - a spore produced as a result of an asexual process.

Deoxynivalinol (DON) - a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum; also referred as vomitoxin.

Feed - any product that is used as food for animals; can include food for human consumption.

Fusarium - A genus of fungi having sickle-shaped multicelled conidia; includes many important plant pathogens.

Fusarium graminearum - A species within the genus Fusarium, the plant pathogen/causal agent of the disease fusarium head blight.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) - The name of the disease caused by the plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum.

Mycotoxin - a non-enzymatic metabolite produced by a fungus that has toxic effects; especially affecting humans or animals.

ppm - parts per million

Producer - any person involved in primary agricultural production.

Spore - a general term for a fungal reproductive structure involved in the spread of a fungus. May be a produced as a result of a sexual or asexual process.

Residue - remainder or whatever is left over of the crop plant material.

Zearalenone - a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum.