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Endophytic mycoflora associated with winter wheat grain
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1  Institute of Plant Protection, National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv 03022, Ukraine
Academic Editor: Lorenzo Negri

Published: 20 October 2025 by MDPI in The 3rd International Online Conference on Agriculture session Crop Production
Abstract:

Determining the mycoflora of wheat grain is important because it is the basis for making decisions about how to use it. For seed batches, this makes it possible to assess the risk of seed-borne diseases and build an appropriate protection system, including a reasoned approach to the choice of a seed treatment agent. This study was conducted in different zones of Ukraine during 2020-2023. In total, fungi of 12 genera were identified. Among the endophytic mycoflora of winter wheat seeds, Alternaria spp. were most often detected. They were found in all studied samples. The proportion of their presence in the grain varied in the years of research. In some cases, its share reached 78%, and on average, it was 10,7-35,1%. The highest level of contamination was observed in 2022. A high presence of Fusarium spp. was also noted. They were isolated from the vast majority of samples (70-91%). The highest isolation frequency, for Alternaria spp., was observed in 2022. Also, in the same year, the highest level of contamination (in average 7%) was noted. The presence of fungi of other genera was much lower. Epicoccum spp., Penicillium spp., Nigrospora spp., Cladosporium spp., and Aspergillus spp. were isolated every year and had a share in the total complex on average from 0.2 to 2.1% over the years of research. So, Alternaria dominate in the complex of endophytic microflora on winter wheat seeds. Fusarium ranks second in terms of isolation frequency.

Keywords: level of infection, isolation frequency, Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp.

 
 
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