Fusarium Head Blight of Hemp in the US: A Familiar Foe Finds a New Target

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) has been a major threat to wheat and cereal production for at least a century. In 2019, FHB was first identified on hemp, with increasing reports in the years following. Hemp can be produced for fiber, grain, or medicinal compounds, and FHB presents a threat to all forms of production and the emerging US market. Traditionally FHB in cereals is managed largely by conventional fungicide use and genetically resistant cultivars. However, neither of these options are available for hemp, and management can be difficult. Ongoing research is focused on understanding the basics of the FHB-hemp pathosystem, including describing the disease cycle, identifying the period(s) of susceptibility, and exploring the impact of hemp in common grain crop rotations. © The Author 2023