Effects of preceding crop and tillage on the incidence of Fusarium spp. and mycotoxin deoxynivalenol content in winter wheat grain

In two field experiments with mouldboard plough, cultivator and no-tillage, the harvested grains of winter wheat were analysed. We examined the degree of contamination with Fusarium and the content of deoxynivalenol (DON). Fusarium graminearum, F. avenaceum and Microdochium nivale were isolated from all samples. The highest incidence of disease (up to 42 % infection by F. graminearum) and mycotoxin content (up to 6 ppm DON) were observed in the no-tillage system with maize or wheat as preceding crop. Compared to no-tillage, mouldboard plough reduced the grain contamination with F. graminearum and the DON-content by 80 % (cultivator: 45 %). In no-tillage treatments, rape as previous crop reduced the F. graminearum incidence and the DON-content by 90 % compared to maize as preceding crop. These data confirm the importance of crop rotation and soil management to reduce the risk of contamination with Fusarium and DON under moist and warm weather conditions during the wheat flower period.