Modeling and Forecasting Systems for Fusarium Head Blight and Deoxynivalenol Content in Wheat in Argentina

In Argentina, wheat Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is predominantly caused by Fusarium graminearum, being deoxynivalenol (DON) the main associated mycotoxin. The sporadic weather-induced nature of FHB in the Pampas region led to the development of weather-based disease and DON forecasting systems. Infective events were identified by head wetting resulting from syncronic occurrence of precipitation and high relative humidity, around wheat anthesis. Retrospective model predictions were able to identify synoptic situations and meteorological predictors of increasing space-temporal scale (for developing specific short-range and seasonal weather forecasts), regarding the disease. In the north-eastern quadrant of the Pampas region, greater disease levels were expected with greater August Southern Annular Mode values and dominance of meridional north-northeastern atmospheric circulation in September. In the southern, the Southern Oscillation index and variables associated to blocking action situations in the south (October), strongly helped to explain disease variability. Climate change impact was assessed retrospectively analyzing the trend lines of FHB incidence predictions (1931–2010), which showed light positive slopes, larger towards southern Pampas region. Prospectively, the anomaly map resulting from the difference between disease incidence estimated by future meteorological data (2071–2100, A2 scenario) and baseline climate (1961–1990), presented positive deviations in the southern Pampas region. The spatial distribution of model-based FHB incidence values using only land weather station network data was compared satisfactorily with those using both land and satellite data. Conclusions derived from FHB forecasting systems and specific weather forecasts are being used to assist producers in disease control measures to be employed.