New Research on Fusarium Disease Management from the University of Kentucky

In an October 2, 2024, news release, the University of Kentucky (UK) highlighted recent research from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment on Fusarium head blight (FHB) in hemp crops, which affects product safety and quality. The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment also published a fact sheet in the news release on the plant pathology of Fusarium head blight, specifically its identification, causes, management, and additional resources. “Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a common disease of hemp that poses a significant threat both to cannabinoid/ flower and grain producers,” it explains. “The disease causes severe blighting of floral tissues that can result in direct yield losses and rejection by processors. The FHB causal fungi can also potentially contaminate harvested grain and flowers with mycotoxins that are harmful to humans and livestock.”

As highlighted in the news release, some of the results from the preliminary research include:

• Infections can begin months before symptoms being to show
• Infections can continue to exist in post-harvest, stored hemp
• The same Fusarium species affecting hemp crops are also affecting wheat, barley, and other crops.

The implications of the research highlight new concerns and challenges for farmers, crop rotation practices, and the processing of hemp.

Notably, the research revealed that mycotoxins are produced in infected hemp. “As hemp becomes more widely used in animal feed, it’s essential to ensure that crops are free from harmful mycotoxins,” explained Nicole Gauthier, hemp extension plant pathologist and Department of Plant Pathology extension professor, in the press release. “Our research confirms that mycotoxins are produced in Fusarium-infected hemp, and further work is needed to understand the full scope of the risk.”

Some of the future goals of the research team are to develop disease-resistant hemp cultivars and fungicides. The fact sheet includes several alternate methods of managing the disease based on their use in cereals and for other disease systems.