Albert Lea Seed House Oat Production Guide | Page 16

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB)

This fungal disease is known to produce the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), more commonly known as vomitoxin. It is usually present in the soil and crop residues of other cereal grains and corn. This disease can have negative
effects on food quality through the production of vomitoxin. The presence of vomitoxin at levels greater than 1 ppm
make consumption unsafe for humans.
Symptoms
FHB usually exhibits symptoms on the oat panicle. There will be a pink and tan shading at the base of an infected
glume. The infected glume will eventually turn a tan to white color as the disease progresses.

Fig. x6. An oats spikelet infected with Fusarium Head Blight (Picture by Andy Tekauz)
Mitchell Fetch, Jennifer. “Fusarium Head Blight of Oat.” Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Web.

Control
Fungicide applications have been known to reduce and help control the presence o