Species Associated with Fusarium Head Blight in Hungarian Wheat Fields.

The species composition of the genus associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat fields of Hungary in the year 2019 was assessed. Symptomatic wheat heads were collected at 20 geographical locations representing different ecosystems. A total of 256 strains were isolated and identified by partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene and, where required, the second-largest subunit of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase gene. Overall, (58.2%) proved to be the dominant species, followed by (formerly ) (17.2%) and (7.4%). The presence of all other species, including , in the population was less than 5%. was identified as the main species associated with FHB at 14 sampling sites. Fumonisin-producing , primarily known as the pathogen of maize in Hungary, was detected nearly as frequently as at three locations and dominated at two other sites. was not found during the survey. , a species that is believed to be of Asian origin and was already found in Hungary in 2002, was identified at two locations.