Infection of wheat spikes by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium avenaceum</Emphasis> and alterations of cell wall components in the infected tissue

The infection process of Fusarium avenaceum on wheat spikes and the alteration of cell wall components in the infected host tissue were examined by means of electron microscopy and cytochemical labelling techniques following spray inoculation at growth stage (GS) 65 (mid-flowering). Macroconidia of the pathogen germinated with one to several germ-tubes 6–12 h after inoculation (hai) on host surfaces. The germ-tubes did not penetrate host tissues immediately, but extended and branched on the host surfaces. Hyphal growth on abaxial surfaces of the glume, lemma and palea was scanty 3–4 days after inoculation (dai) and no direct penetration of the outer surfaces of the spikelet was observed. Dense mycelial networks formed on the inner surfaces of the glume, lemma, palea and ovary 36–48 hai. Penetration of the host tissue occurred 36 hai by infection hyphae only on the adaxial surfaces of the glume, lemma, palea and upper part of ovary. The fungus penetrated the cuticle and hyphae extended subcuticularly or between the epidermal wall layers. The subcuticular growth phase was followed by penetration of the epidermal wall, and hyphae spread rapidly inter- and intracellularly in the glume, lemma, palea and ovary. During this necrotrophic colonization phase of the wheat spike, a series of alterations occurred in the host tissues, such as degeneration of cytoplasm and cell organelles, collapse of host cells and disintegration of host cell walls. Immunogold labelling techniques showed that cell walls of spike tissues contained reduced amounts of cellulose, xylan and pectin near intercellular hyphae or infection pegs compared to walls of healthy host tissues. These studies suggest that cell wall degrading enzymes produced by F. avenaceum facilitated rapid colonization of wheat spikes. The different penetration properties of abaxial and adaxial surfaces of the spikelet tissues as well as the two distinct colonization strategies of host tissues by F. avenaceum are discussed. The penetration and colonization behaviour of F. avenaceum in wheat spikelets resembled that of F. culmorum and F. graminearum, although mycotoxins produced by F. avenaceum differed from those of the latter two Fusarium species.     

禾谷镰刀菌侵染引致小麦穗组织细胞壁成分变化的细胞化学研究

 本文采用细胞化学方法, 对健康和禾谷镰刀菌(Fusarium graminearum)侵染的小麦穗组织中细胞壁主要成分进行了比较分析。电镜观察发现, 被侵穗部组织细胞壁中的主要成分如纤维素、木聚糖和果胶质的标记密度下降, 显著低于未接种的健康对照组织。结果表明病菌侵染和扩展过程中分泌产生了纤维素酶、木聚糖酶和果胶酶等细胞壁降解酶类, 造成寄主细胞壁成分的分解及细胞壁松弛, 从而有利于病菌在寄主穗部组织中的侵染和扩展。     

The Fusarium graminearum Xyr1 transcription factor regulates xylanase expression but is not essential for fungal virulence

The fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of fusarium head blight in wheat and other small grain cereals. This fungus is known to produce high amounts of cell wall‐degrading enzymes during infection of wheat spikes. In addition, wheat tissue is particularly rich in xylan, which can be hydrolysed by fungal xylanases. In order to establish the role of F. graminearum xylanase activity in pathogenicity, targeted gene disruption of the F. graminearum xyr1 gene, encoding the major regulator of xylanase gene expression, was performed. When grown on xylan as carbon source, the xylanase activity of the Δxyr1 mutant was dramatically reduced and fungal growth was significantly reduced compared to the wildtype fungus. When grown on carboxymethylcellulose, the cellulolytic activity of the mutant was also reduced and the mutant did not grow on wheat cell walls. The disruption of the xyr1 gene greatly reduced the expression of xylanase‐encoding genes both in vitro and during wheat spike infection, thus confirming the involvement of F. graminearum Xyr1 in the regulation of genes controlling xylan degradation. However, despite the deep impact caused by xyr1 gene disruption on the expression of xylanase genes and on total xylanase activity, the virulence of the Δxyr1 mutant appeared unaffected on Triticum aestivum and T. durum spikes and on soybean seedlings. In conclusion, although a possible role for residual xylanase activity in the virulence of F. graminearum cannot be conclusively excluded, the results question the importance of xylanase activity during the infection process.     

Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical investigation of pathogen development and host responses in resistant and susceptible wheat spikes infected by Fusarium culmorum

Pathogen development and host responses in wheat spikes of resistant and susceptible cultivars infected by Fusarium culmorum causing Fusarium head blight (FHB), were investigated by means of electron microscopy as well as immunogold labelling techniques. The studies revealed similarities in the infection process and the initial spreading of the pathogen in wheat spikes between resistant and susceptible cultivars. However, the pathogen’s development was obviously more slow in the resistant cultivars as in comparison to a susceptible one. The structural defence reactions such as the formation of thick layered appositions and large papillae were essentially more pronounced in the infected host tissues of the resistant cultivars, than in the susceptible one. β -1,3-glucan was detected in the appositions and papillae. Furthermore, immunogold labelling of lignin demonstrated that there were no differences in the lignin contents of the wheat spikes between susceptible and resistant cultivars regarding the uninoculated healthy tissue, but densities of lignin in host cell walls of the infected wheat spikes differed distinctly between resistant and susceptible cultivars. The lignin content in the cell walls of the infected tissues of the susceptible wheat cultivar increased slightly, while the lignin accumulated intensely in the host cell walls of the infected wheat spikes of the resistant cultivars. These findings indicate that lignin accumulation in the infected wheat spikes may play an important role in resistance to the spreading of the pathogen in the host tissues. Immunogold labelling of the Fusarium toxin DON in the infected lemma showed the same labelling patterns in the host tissues of resistant and susceptible cultivars. However, there were distinct differences in the toxin concentration between the tissues of the susceptible and resistant cultivars. At the early stage of infection, the labelling densities for DON in resistant cultivars were significantly lower than those in the susceptible one. The present study indicates that the FHB resistant cultivars are able to develop active defence reactions during infection and spreading of the pathogen in the host tissues. The lower accumulation of the toxin DON in the tissues of the infected spikes of resistant cultivars which results from the host’s defence mechanisms may allow more intensive defence responses to the pathogen by the host.     

Use of Fusarium graminearum transformed with gfp to follow infection patterns in barley and Arabidopsis

The fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum attacks the seed spikes of barley and wheat, causing sterility, reduced seed weight and accumulation of mycotoxins. To explore infection patterns in barley and in the Arabidopsis model system, the green fluorescent protein gene (gfp) was used to transform F. graminearum. Inoculation of intact barley spikes resulted in rapid colonization of the brush hairs (ovary epithelial hairs) at the extruded seed tip within 7 h. Colonization followed a pattern of rapid basipetal growth along the pericarp epithelium (interior to the lemma and palea), accompanied by slower growth inward through the pericarp and testa. However, at 16 days after infection the aleurone and starchy endosperm remained uninfected, despite heavy colonization of the pericarp. Colonization of the outer lemma also occurred but was much slower. No increase in amylase enzyme activities was found, discounting the possibility that F. graminearum utilizes gibberellin-induced host enzymes to tap the endosperm for nutrients. The transformed Fusarium strain readily infected Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and produced copious spores within distant leaves. Results show the utility of gfp in tracing the growth of this pathogen, without misinterpretation due to contaminating fungi, and for resistance studies utilizing the Arabidopsis model system.     

Immunocytochemical localization of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase in Fusarium culmorum -infected wheat spikes

Two antisera raised against acidic β-1,3-glucanase and acidic chitinase from tobacco were used to investigate the subcellular localization of the two enzymes in Fusarium culmorum -infected wheat spike by means of the immunogold labelling technique. The studies demonstrated that the distribution of β-1, 3-glucanase and chitinase were very similar in the uninoculated healthy and infected wheat spikes. The enzymes were localized mainly in the cell walls of different tissues including the lemma, ovary and rachis of the wheat spike, while the cytoplasm and organelles of cells in these tissues showed almost no labelling. However, the accumulation of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase in the infected wheat spikes differed distinctly between resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars. The labelling densities for the two enzymes in the infected lemma, ovary and rachis of the susceptible cultivar Agent increased only slightly as compared to the corresponding uninoculated healthy tissues, whereas higher labelling densities of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase were found in the infected tissues of wheat spikes from the resistant cultivar Arina compared to the corresponding uninoculated healthy tissues. Furthermore, the labelling of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase also occurred over the cell walls of the hyphae in the infected wheat spike, but not over the hyphal cytoplasm. In addition, labelling for the two enzymes was often detected over the cell wall appositions and the electron-dense material located between the host cell and the hyphal cell in the infected tissues of the resistant wheat cultivar. The findings reported in the present study indicate that β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase accumulation in the F. culmorum -infected wheat spike may be involved in resistance to pathogen spread in the host tissue.     

Ultrastructural and cell wall modifications during infection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus viminalis</Emphasis> roots by a pathogenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> strain

Fusarium species are soil-borne fungal pathogens that produce a variety of disease symptoms when attacking crop plants. The mode of root colonization of Eucalyptus viminalis seedlings by a pathogenic F. oxyporum strain (Foeu1) at the ultrastructural level and changes in cell wall pectin during host pathogen interactions are described. Root systems of E. viminalis plants were inoculated with F. oxysporum in an in vitro model system. Hyphae of F. oxysporum adhered to the outer epidermal cell walls through fibrillar material, and after penetration they spread into the internal tissues. They developed intercellularly and intracellularly in the root cortex and invaded vascular tissues. Papillae were induced, and the host plasma membrane ruptured in colonized cells, causing rapid host tissue and cell damage. Changes in distribution and occurrence of nonesterified and methyl-esterified pectins were evaluated after root colonization by F. oxysporum using two monoclonal antibodies, JIM 5 and JIM 7, respectively. Nonesterified pectin in control roots was mainly localized in the epidermal cell walls and middle lamellae in parenchymal cortex, whereas methyl-esterified pectin accumulated more in primary cell walls of the cortex and phloem. Decreases in immunodetected nonesterified and methyl-esterified pectins were associated with extensive plant tissue degradation after root colonization by the pathogenic fungus.     

Studies on the Infection Process of Fusarium Culmorum in Wheat Spikes: Degradation of Host Cell Wall Components and Localization of Trichothecene Toxins in Infected Tissue

After single spikelet inoculation, the infection process of Fusarium culmorum and spread of fungal hyphae in the spike tissues were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. While hyphal growth on outer surfaces of the spike was scanty and no successful penetration was observed, the fungus developed a dense mycelium on the inner surfaces and effectively invaded the lemma, glume, palea and ovary by penetration pegs. During the inter- and intracellular spreading of the fungus, marked alterations in the host tissues were observed, including degeneration of cytoplasm, cell organelles, and depositions of electron dense material between cell wall and plasmalemma. Ultrastructural studies revealed that host cell walls in proximity of the penetration peg and in contact with hyphae were less dense or transparent which suggested that cell wall degrading enzymes were involved in colonisation of host tissues by fungal hyphae. Enzyme- and immunogold-labelling investigations confirmed involvement of extracellular enzymes, that is cellulases, xylanases and pectinases, in degradation of cell wall components. Localization studies of trichothecenes indicated that toxins could be detected in host tissues at an early stage of infection.     

Cell interactions between a nonpathogenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> strain and root tissues of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus viminalis</Emphasis>

Nonpathogenic isolates of Fusarium oxysporum can be successful antagonists of pathogenic forms of the same fungal species that commonly attacks crop plants. The characteristics that distinguish nonpathogenic from pathogenic forms are not well understood. In this study, the mode of root colonization of Eucalyptus viminalis seedlings by a nonpathogenic F. oxysporum strain is described at the ultrastructural level. Root systems of E. viminalis plants were inoculated with nonpathogenic F. oxysporum strain Fo47 in an in vitro model system. Changes in the occurrence of nonesterified and methyl-esterified pectins in colonized E. viminalis roots were evaluated by in situ immunolabeling using two monoclonal antibodies, JIM 5 and JIM 7. Modes of penetration and root colonization patterns in E. viminalis seedlings by the nonpathogenic fungus were similar to those described for pathogenic forms of F. oxysporum. However, root interactions differed in that the nonpathogenic fungus did not induce host tissue damage. No papilla-like appositions were observed in host cells in response to invading hyphae, which did not disrupt the host plasma membrane in many cases, suggesting that a biotrophic relationship was established. Root colonization by the nonpathogenic strain did not induce alteration in JIM 7 labeling of methyl-esterified pectin in E. viminalis cell walls, whereas nonesterified pectin was detected to a significantly greater extent in cell walls of roots colonized by the fungus. Pectin components decreased slightly only at points of hyphal contact with host cells. Because nonpathogenic strains utilize pectin in pure culture, host control over enzyme activity or production by the fungi may at least partly explain their compatible interactions with host tissues.     

Effect of wheat spike infection timing on fusarium head blight development and mycotoxin accumulation

Fusarium head blight in wheat spikes is associated with production of mycotoxins by the fungi. Although flowering is recognized as the most favourable host stage for infection, a better understanding of infection timing on disease development and toxin accumulation is needed. This study monitored the development of eight characterized isolates of F. graminearum, F. culmorum and F. poae in a greenhouse experiment. The fungi were inoculated on winter wheat spikes before or at anther extrusion, or at 8, 18 and 28 days later. Disease levels were estimated by the AUDPC and thousand‐kernel weight (TKW). The fungal biomass (estimated by qPCR) and toxin concentration (deoxynivalenol and nivalenol, estimated by UPLC‐UV‐MS/MS) were measured in each inoculated spike, providing a robust estimation of these variables and allowing correlations based on single‐individual measurements to be established. The toxin content correlated well with fungal biomass in kernels, independently of inoculation date. The AUDPC was correlated with fungal DNA, but not for early and late infection dates. The highest disease and toxin levels were for inoculations around anthesis, but early or late infections led to detectable levels of fungus and toxin for the most aggressive isolates. Fungal development appeared higher in kernels than in the chaff for inoculations at anthesis, but the opposite was found for later inoculations. These results show that anthesis is the most susceptible stage for FHB, but also clearly shows that early and late infections can produce significant disease development and toxin accumulation with symptoms difficult to estimate visually.     

戊唑醇对小麦赤霉菌侵染影响的细胞学研究

采用电镜技术研究了三唑类杀菌剂戊唑醇(tebuconazole)对赤霉病菌Fusarium gramineaum侵染小麦穗部过程的影响.结果表明:人工接种前2天施药,可推迟外稃内表皮、内稃及子房上分生孢子的萌发,但不能完全抑制其萌发,可引起芽管和菌丝严重畸形,不能形成侵染菌丝侵入寄主.而人工接种后2天施药,戊唑醇则严重抑制了病菌菌丝的生长,使寄主体表和寄主组织内的菌丝形态、结构发生了一系列异常变化,并最终塌陷死亡,使菌丝不能扩展到穗轴部位.接种后4天施药,病菌虽已扩展到穗轴,但戊唑醇仍对穗轴中菌丝生长具有明显的抑制作用.对赤霉毒素的免疫细胞化学标记结果表明,药剂处理与未处理的寄主和菌丝细胞中都存在有毒素,但标记密度在药剂处理的寄主和菌丝细胞中明显低于未处理对照.     

A dsRNA mycovirus causes hypovirulence of Fusarium graminearum to wheat and maize

The association of Fusarium graminearum isolate China-9 with the dsRNA mycovirus FgV-ch9 was evaluated for hypovirulence-related traits. Single conidia-originating cultures of China-9 isolate can be associated either with high, medium or low amounts of the viral dsRNAs. At high and medium dsRNA levels, China-9 isolates exhibit reduced mycelia growth rate and conidiation capacity, abnormal colony morphology, disorganized cytoplasm, as well as reduced virulence for wheat and maize plants. At low dsRNA levels the fungus shows no symptoms, however, the RNA segments can be detected by RT-PCR. Transfection of the virulent F. graminearum PH-1 isolate with purified Virus-like Particles (VLPs) of FgV-ch9 reduced its conidiation capacity, perithecia formation, and pathogenicity for wheat and maize several folds. These results further demonstrate that FgV-ch9 is associated with hypovirulence of F. graminearum.     

小麦穗组织中脱氧镰刀菌烯醇毒素的免疫细胞化学定位

 采用免疫细胞化学技术对禾谷镰刀菌(Fusarium graminearum)在侵染小麦穗部过程中产生的脱氧镰刀菌烯醇毒素(deoxynivalenol,DON)进行了定位分析。在接种后24h,当菌丝在外稃、内稃的内侧表面扩展而尚未侵入寄主细胞前,病菌已分泌DON,并且DON已扩散到寄主组织内。在菌丝细胞内,DON主要被定位于细胞质、线粒体及细胞壁上;在寄主细胞中DON主要分布于细胞壁、叶绿体、细胞质和内质网上。在侵染初期(接种后2 d),菌丝仅能在寄主细胞间隙扩展,随寄主组织中DON浓度的升高,寄主细胞相应发生了一系列病理变化。随寄主细胞坏死(接种后3~4d),病菌进入坏死的寄主细胞。上述结果表明,DON在禾谷镰刀菌的侵染、致病和定殖过程中起着重要的作用。毒素标记结果表明病菌产生的毒素可通过穗轴微管束组织从侵染部位向上、向下转输,毒素向上的转输量明显高于向下转输     

The effect of different carbon sources on phenotypic expression by Fusarium graminearum strains

Two Fusarium graminearum strains were cultured in glucose yeast extract peptone broth or minimal medium broth to measure the production of mycelial biomass, pH, mycotoxins, and aurofusarin pigment, when limited to single carbon sources (at 1%), including xylan, cellulose, starch, or glucose. A random complete block design with factorial arrangement and analysis of variance at a significance level of 0.01 were employed to test for treatment differences. Overall, the F. graminearum strains produced significantly more biomass, deoxynivalenol, and aurofusarin with xylan than with cellulose. No significant differences were found in terms of 15–acetyldeoxynivalenol production from the four carbon sources. The presence of significant interactions between the strains, carbon sources, and media led to the following specific differences. In yeast extract peptone broth, R-9828 strain yielded significantly more deoxynivalenol production with xylan than cellulose and R-9832 produced significantly more mycelium (biomass) with xylan than cellulose. R-9828 strain yielded significantly more deoxynivalenol production than the R-9832 strain. Also in yeast extract peptone broth, cellulose led to significantly higher pH values than other carbons, which might be due to the limited ability of the Fusarium strains to utilize cellulose as an energy source. Aurofusarin was the only expressed analyte to show a significant difference in minimal medium broth, and R-9832 produced significantly more aurofusarin with xylan than with cellulose in the broth. These results suggest that xylan may induce Fusarium growth and deoxynivalenol production to assist the infection process and may support the theory that F. graminearum invades through xylan in the cell walls of cereals.     

Fusarium graminearum as a dry rot pathogen of potato in the USA: prevalence,comparison of host isolate aggressiveness and factors affecting aetiology

A 2004–2005 survey of potatoes from stores in the north‐central potato‐producing region of the USA showed that the predominant causes of dry rot were Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium sambucinum. Isolates of F. graminearum originally isolated from potato tubers with dry rot (n = 15), wheat kernels with scab (n = 15), and sugarbeet tap roots with decay (n = 5) were tested for aggressiveness to potato tubers. There were no significant differences in aggressiveness among isolates of F. graminearum, regardless of original host, as measured by their ability to cause dry rot. These findings may have implications for survival of F. graminearum inoculum since potatoes, wheat and sugarbeets are frequently used in crop rotation in the region. Fusarium graminearum required larger wounds for infection of potato tubers than F. sambucinum. Plug‐removal injury, simulating a stolon‐removal injury, resulted in equal incidence of dry rot caused by the two Fusarium species, whereas abrasion and bruising injury were sufficient for infection and dry rot development by F. sambucinum, but not F. graminearum. A change in harvest practices from vine‐killing prior to harvest to mechanical vine‐killing on the day of harvest may be a factor affecting the onset of dry rot caused by F. graminearum, since this process often causes large wounds at the stem end of the tubers when the stolon is forcibly removed.     

Genetic variation of aggressiveness in individual field populations ofFusarium graminearum andFusarium culmorum tested on young plants of winter rye

Fusarium graminearum andF. culmorum are capable of infecting winter cereals at all growth stages. From natural field epidemics of wheat head blight and rye foot rot, three fungal populations were collected with 21, 38 and 54 isolates, respectively; their aggressiveness was analyzed in comparison to collections ofF. graminearum (25 isolates) andF. culmorum (70 isolates) that represent a wide range of geographical locations and host species. All isolates were tested for aggressiveness on young plants of winter rye in the greenhouse and scored for disease severity on a 1–9 scale. Disease ratings of individual isolates ranged from 1.5 to 5.7 indicating quantitative variation of aggressiveness. Genotypic variance was highest in the twoFusarium collections. No substantial difference was found in the amount of genotypic variation betweenF. graminearum andF. culmorum. Individual field populations revealed 57–66% of the total genotypic variation of the collections. This implies a high degree of diversity of aggressiveness within single field populations ofF. graminearum andF. culmorum causing natural epidemics.     

禾谷镰刀菌在小麦穗部侵染过程的细胞学研究

 采用扫描和透射电镜技术系统地观察了禾谷镰刀菌(Fusarium graminearum)在小麦穗部的侵染过程。接种后6~12 h,分生孢子在小麦穗部的任何部位均可萌发,每个孢子可产生1至多个芽管,新产生的芽管并不立即入侵寄主组织,而是在寄主体表生长扩展;接种后36~48 h观察,小穗颖片、外稃、内稃的内侧和子房的表面形成了密集的菌丝网,然而在小麦穗轴表面、颖片和内稃的外表面,菌丝生长缓慢、分布稀疏,但颖片外表边缘的菌丝可跨越边缘扩展到颖片的内表皮上;接种后36 h,寄主体表菌丝产生入侵菌丝,以直接入侵方式由颖片、外稃、内稃的内侧及子房的顶部侵入寄主组织体内,随后,菌丝以胞间和胞内生长的方式向下扩展;接种后4~5 d,菌丝由上述组织扩展到达穗轴后,在穗轴内沿微管束组织和皮层组织向上和向下扩展,延伸到相邻小花,随菌丝在小麦穗部组织内不断地生长扩展,使得寄主细胞坏死、解体,并最终导致整个麦穗的枯死。     

Species composition,toxigenic potential and pathogenicity of Fusarium graminearum species complex isolates from southern Brazilian rice

This study aimed to assess the extent and distribution of Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) diversity in rice seeds produced in southern Brazil. Four species and two trichothecene genotypes were detected among 89 FGSC isolates, based on a multilocus genotyping assay: F. asiaticum (69·6%) with the nivalenol (NIV) genotype, F. graminearum (14·6%) with the 15‐acetyldeoxynivalenol (ADON) genotype, and F. cortaderiae (14·6%) and F. meridionale (1·1%), both with the NIV genotype. Seven selected F. asiaticum isolates from rice produced NIV in rice‐based substrate in vitro, at levels ranging from 4·7 to 84·1 μg g^?1. Similarly, two F. graminearum isolates from rice produced mainly 15‐ADON (c. 15–41 μg g^?1) and a smaller amount of 3‐ADON (c. 6–12 μg g^?1). One F. meridionale and two F. cortaderiae isolates did not produce detectable levels of trichothecenes. Two F. asiaticum isolates from rice and two from wheat (from a previous study), and one F. graminearum isolate from wheat, were pathogenic to both crops at various levels of aggressiveness based on measures of disease severity in wheat spikes and rice kernel infection in a greenhouse assay. Fusarium asiaticum and the reference F. graminearum isolate from wheat produced NIV, and deoxynivalenol and acetylates, respectively, in the kernels of inoculated wheat heads. No trichothecene was produced in kernels from inoculated rice panicles by any of the isolates. These findings constitute the first report of FGSC composition in rice outside Asia, and confirm the dominance of F. asiaticum in rice agroecosystems.     

Nivalenol‐producing Fusarium cerealis associated with fusarium head blight in winter wheat in Manitoba,Canada

Fusarium head blight (FHB) in small grain cereals is primarily caused by the members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex. These produce mycotoxins in infected grains, primarily deoxynivalenol (DON); acetylated derivatives of DON, 3‐acetyl‐DON (3‐ADON) and 15‐acetyl‐DON (15‐ADON); and nivalenol (NIV). This study reports the isolation of Fusarium cerealis in infected winter wheat heads for the first time in Canada. A phylogenetic analysis based on the TRI101 gene and F. graminearum species‐specific primers revealed two species of Fusarium: F. graminearum sensu stricto (127 isolates) and F. cerealis (five isolates). Chemotype determination based on the TRI3 gene revealed that 65% of the isolates were 3‐ADON, 31% were 15‐ADON and 4% were NIV producers. All the F. cerealis isolates were of NIV chemotype. Fusarium cerealis isolates can often be misidentified as F. graminearum as the morphological characteristics are similar. Although the cultural and macroconidial characteristics of F. graminearum and F. cerealis isolates were similar, the aggressiveness of these isolates on susceptible wheat cultivar Roblin and moderately resistant cultivar Carberry differed significantly. The F. graminearum 3‐ADON isolates were most aggressive, followed by F. graminearum 15‐ADON and F. cerealis NIV isolates. The findings from this study confirm the continuous shift of chemotypes from 15‐ADON to 3‐ADON in North America. In Canada, the presence of NIV is limited to barley samples and the discovery of NIV‐producing F. cerealis species in Canadian wheat fields may pose a serious concern to the Canadian wheat industry in the future.