“Killer Joules”: spores of Bipolaris sorokiniana and fusarium species are susceptible to microwave radiation

Abstract Cereal production in Australia is severely impacted by diseases such as Fusarium crown rot (caused predominantly pseudograminearum ) and common root Bipolaris sorokiniana ). These are particularly difficult to manage because inoculum can survive at least three years within cereal stubble, or four soil the case of B. . Microwave radiation may be able reduce eliminate stubble soil. Several pathogens have been previously shown susceptible microwave radiation, but energy requirements achieve a significant decrease pathogen populations were not defined. Laboratory based dose-response experiments on conidia macroconidia F. cerealis revealed that all with lethal dose (LD) thresholds estimated for each pathogen. required 103.8 Jg − 1 236.6 LD50 LD99, respectively, whilst 78.4 300.8 95.3 152.7 respectively. results derived from whereby samples microwaved up 10 s using domestic 1100 W oven. timing serve starting point define further development treatments under field conditions.