Seeds of Oxen spring wheat were planted at a population of 121 lb/A on 4 May in Fargo clay soil at the North Dakota State University Experiment Station, Fargo. Seed was drilled on 6 in. row spacing into wheat residue that had been chiseled twice prior to planting and fertilized with N, P, and K for a 60bu/A yield goal. Puma + Bronate + Starane herbicides were applied at the five leaf stage for weed control. The experimental plots were delineated in the drilled field in a randomized complete block design with four replications of 9' by 15'. Plots were inoculated by broadcasting Fusarium graminearum colonized corn and barley kernels (100g/plot) over the plot surfaces on 18 Jun. The plots were mist irrigated using an overhead Rainbird mist system, starting on 8 Jul. The plots were misted each day until 18 Jul, continually for two hours in the early morning and two hours in the evening. Biological agents (TrigoCor 1448 and OH 182.9) and fungicides were applied as sprays at 18 gpa with a CO2-pressurized back pack sprayer with a constant boom pressure of 40 psi and 20 in. between XR8001 flat fan nozzles mounted forward and backward at a 30 degree angle from the horizontal. Sprays were applied at flowering (29 Jun), corresponding to Feekes' growth stage 10.51. Plots were assessed for % flag leaf infection of fungal leaf spots and for the presence and severity of Fusarium head blight (FHB) on 23 Jul, at soft dough stage of kernel development

(Feekes' growth stage 11.2). Incidence of FHB was determined by counting heads with symptoms per 30 heads/plot, and head severity was determined as avg % symptomatic florets per head. FHB field severity was determined by multiplying incidence x head severity. Rainfall was below normal from 15 May to 15 Jul, totaling 4.0 in., and temperatures were in the upper 80s and low 900s F from 28 Jun to 13 Jul. Plots were harvested on 7 Aug with a Kincaid plot combine. Yield (bu/A) was determined from harvested grain adjusted to 13.5% moisture and cleaned once with a Clipper mill. Harvested grain was visually assessed for % damaged kernels. Grain was analyzed for DON content by the North Dakota State University Toxicology Lab using gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

All treatments significantly reduced FHB head severity and field severity. All treatments also significantly reduced leaf spot severity on the flag leaf, but the two biological agents tested had significantly higher leaf spot severity than the fungicide treatments. DON (vomitoxin) levels, % Fusarium damaged kernels, and test weight were not significantly affected by treatment. Treatments did not significantly increase yield over the untreated, but TrigorCor 1448 resulted in a significantly lower yield than some fungicide treatments. Warm, dry conditions during late Jun and early Jul inhibited development of the disease at this site and the mist system was initiated late, resulting in low disease pressure.