Fusarium thapsinum is the dominant species associated with sorghum stalk rot in Queensland and northern New South Wales

Fusarium thapsinum is the dominant species associated with sorghum stalk rot in Queensland and northern New South Wales

Stalk rots and lodging are a continual threat to sorghum
producers across Australia, particularly on the Darling
Downs and central Queensland regions. The fusarium stalk
rot pathogen was previously known as Fusarium moniliforme sensu lato, however it has now been separated into a number of species. These changes in taxonomy have led to the need to gain an understanding of the role that different Fusarium species play in sorghum stalk rots and lodging in Australia. Surveys have been undertaken throughout the major sorghum‐producing regions in Queensland and northern New South Wales to identify the Fusarium species associated with stalk rot, and to determine their distribution and relative importance. To date, 296 Fusarium isolates have been collected from 64 sites. Of those, 197 isolates have been identified to species using either morphological characters alone, or both morphological and molecular techniques. Fusarium thapsinum is the dominant species in all regions and from all plant types sampled, followed by Fusarium andiyazi. The findings from these activities will assist in the development of an integrated disease management package for sorghum stalk rot in Australia. This study is a component of the GRDC funded Northern Integrated Disease Management project.