Interested Members of the University Community are invited to attend the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Master of Science of Jake Gregory of the Department of Plant Agriculture

DATE:  Monday, December 18th, 2023
TIME: 9:00 AM
FORMAT: Virtual
ZOOM LINK: https://zoom.us/j/97427844163?pwd=VmFyRHJaOFQwN08zckpHa05Qa0szUT09
MEETING ID: 974 2784 4163
PASSCODE: 655584

Thesis Title: THE EFFICACY OF ENDOPHYTES AND EPIPHYTES AGAINST FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT IN WHEAT AND GIBBERELLA EAR ROT IN CORN UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

Advisory Committee 
Dr. Manish Raizada, Advisor
Dr. Helen Booker
Dr. Art Schaafsma

Examination Committee
Dr. John Cline, Chair
Dr. Manish Raizada
Dr. Helen Booker
Dr. George van der Merwe                                       

ABSTRACT

Fusarium graminearum (Fg), the causative agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and Gibberella ear rot (GER) in corn, affects two of the three most important food crops globally and are of significant concern in Ontario. The Raizada lab previously isolated collections of bacterial endophytes and epiphytes from the Fg-affected tissues of corn and wheat. A subset of these were previously identified as Fg-antagonistic in vitro. I hypothesized that these candidate biological control agents may control FHB/GER symptoms under field conditions in both crops. Two years of field trials were conducted for each crop. Plants were sprayed with candidate BCAs prior to Fg, and yield and mycotoxin data were collected. The data suggests a subset of the candidates should be further investigated in larger field trials. I discuss BCA candidates for further investigation and those of note based on the results, and how they may interact with their environment and host.