%D %0 ARTICLE %T Comparison of Canadian Fusarium graminearum isolates for aggressiveness , vegetative compatibility , and production of ergosterol and mycotoxins . %J Mycopathologia %V 153 ( 4 ) %P 209-15 %A Gilbert J %A Abramson D %A McCallum B %A Clear R %M pub12014482 %X Fusarium graminearum is the predominant pathogen causing fusarium head blight of cereals in North America . Fifteen Canadian isolates of Fusarium graminearum were highly diverse in terms of vegetative compatibility grouping ( VCG ) and varied for production of ergosterol and mycotoxin production in rice culture . Aggressiveness was assessed by scoring the disease severity incited in wheat spikes by each isolate . Two inoculation methods , single-floret injection and spray of entire spikes , were used to screen 4 wheat varieties for reaction to the F graminearum isolates . All isolates were of broadly similar aggressiveness , with disease severity ranging from 17 . 2 to 39 . 1 for single floret injection , and 39 . 1 to 69 . 0 for spray inoculation . Disease severity , ergosterol production , and mycotoxin development were not correlated . Using nitrate non-utilizing mutants the 15 isolates were grouped into 14 VCGs . Deoxynivalenol ( DON ) was produced by all isolates in rice culture , at levels between 0 . 2 and 249 ppm . 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol was produced by 14 of the 15 isolates at levels between 0 . 4 and 44 . 6 ppm . These results reveal a high level of diversity for several characteristics among F graminearum isolates from Canada .