Fungicidal Effect of Strong Oxidative Free Radicals Against Fusarium graminearum and Their Impact on Wheat Growth and Yield

Huanhuan Zhang, Bo Zhang (), Huagang He, Lulu Zhang, Xinkang Hu and Chundu Wu ()
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Huanhuan Zhang: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Bo Zhang: School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Huagang He: School of the Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Lulu Zhang: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Xinkang Hu: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Chundu Wu: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum , is a significant fungal disease that adversely affects wheat production and food security. This study systematically evaluated the fungicidal efficacy of strong oxidative radicals (SORs) against F. graminearum and their effects on wheat growth and yield through a combination of in vitro and field experiments. In vitro experiments revealed that solutions containing different concentrations of radicals effectively suppressed the fungus. The results suggested that SOR solutions exhibited potent fungicidal activity against F. graminearum . At a concentration of 4.0 mg/L, the spore mortality rate was 96.8%, and at 5.0 mg/L, the rate reached 99.4%. The optimal concentration for the elimination of F. graminearum spores was determined to be 2.5 × 10 5 CFU/mL. The optimal treatment duration for SORs was 10 min. Furthermore, field trials investigated the effects of SORs on wheat growth, and agronomic traits were assessed, along with their efficacy in controlling FHB in field trials, both as a standalone treatment and in combination with commercial pesticides. The results indicated that the application of SORs alone achieved an 87.9% control efficacy, demonstrating significant potential for disease control. Furthermore, SORs positively influenced wheat agronomic traits such as plant height, spike length, grain weight per plant, grain number per plant and grain yield, providing a promising new approach for the green control of FHB.

Keywords: strong oxidizing radicals; Fusarium head blight; Fusarium graminearum; agronomic field trials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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