LEXINGTON Ky. ā Extension faculty at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment are advancing the fight against Fusarium head blight (FHB) in hemp a disease caused by multiple species of the Fusarium fungus that threatens crops nationwide.
Hemp is increasingly important for grain, fiber and cannabinoid production, so effective disease management has never been more critical.
FHB leads to the death of plant tissues in seed heads and floral structures, impacting crop quality and yield. With hempās expanded useāparticularly in animal feedāUKās research is essential for ensuring product quality and safety.
While research is still in progress, the team has found the Fusarium species affecting hemp are the same as that cause head blight in wheat, barley and other cereal crops. That raises concerns about cross-infection in regions where both are grown.
āOur preliminary findings suggest crop rotations involving hemp and wheat need to be reconsidered,ā said Nicole Gauthier, hemp extension plant pathologist and Department of Plant Pathology extension professor, a member of the UK Hemp Research, Extension, and Education program and editor of the Compendium of Cannabis Diseases. āThe risk of Fusarium spreading between crops could impact both yields and quality.ā
The team has documented early infections in hemp, with some occurring months before visible symptoms develop. That is a challenge for farmers, as the disease can go undetected until significant damage has occurred.
āInfections can begin long before symptoms are noticeable, which makes early detection difficult,ā Gauthier said. āBut it also means thereās a window for intervention that could prevent the disease from spreading further.ā
Fusarium fungi can produce harmful chemicals called mycotoxins, such as DON and T-2, that pose risk to human and animal health. Their presence in seed crop is concerning for producers in the animal feed market.
āAs hemp becomes more widely used in animal feed, itās essential to ensure that crops are free from harmful mycotoxins,ā Gauthier said. āOur research confirms that mycotoxins are produced in Fusarium-infected hemp, and further work is needed to understand the full scope of the risk.ā
Beyond field infections, researchers believe Fusarium contamination could persist in stored crops. This raises questions about storage practices and risks of contamination during processing.
āItās looking like Fusarium can survive in stored hemp, impacting product quality even after harvest,ā Gauthier said. āThis highlights the importance of careful post-harvest management.ā
The research teamās long-term goals include developing cultivars resistant to Fusarium head blight and investigating potential fungicide treatments. Currently, no fungicides are approved for use on hemp for this disease, and resistant cultivars have yet to be developed. The UK programās ongoing work is helping to lay the groundwork for these solutions.
Visit the UK Hemp Research, Extension and Education program at Martin-Gatton CAFE at hemp.ca.uky.edu.
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