Fusarium moniliforme syn. Fusarium verticillioides (Teleomorph: Gibberella fujikuroi)
Gibberella zeae (Anamorph: Fusarium graminearum)

Nature of damage

• Gibberella and Fusarium stalk rots can cause extensive crop damage by premature plant death, interference with translocation of water and nutrients during grain filling, and crop lodging.

Signs

• Symptoms produced by these pathogens resemble those caused by Stenocarpella or Cephalosporium, and cannot be differentiated until spore-producing structures are observed.
• Wilted plants remain standing when dry.
• Small, dark-brown lesions develop in the lowest internodes.
• When infected stalks are split, the phloem appears dark brown, and there is a general conspicuous browning of tissues.
• In the final stages of infection, pith is shredded and surrounding tissues become discolored.

Factors favoring development

• Fusarium moniliforme is most common in dry, warm areas. It is particularly severe if it begins just before tasseling.
• Gibberella zeae is prevalent in cool regions.
• Increased crop density and nitrogen fertilization rates favor disease severity.
• Crops under stress (e.g. due to foliar diseases) are more prone to stalk rots - stalks are already weakened as stalk sugars are diverted for grain filling.

Geographic distribution

• Maize growing regions worldwide.