Common bunt resistance of Czech and European winter wheat cultivars and breeder lines

Abstract

Winter wheat cultivars recently registered in the Czech Republic were tested in three-year field tests for resistance to common bunt. Seeds were inoculated with a mixture of local strains of Tilletia tritici and T. laevis. None of the cultivars displayed a higher level of resistance compared with the resistant checks. The mean percentage of bunted ears in the three test series including checks was 39%. Mean bunt infection in resistant and susceptible checks was 2% and 63%, respectively. In the European Tilletia cooperative test performed in Prague-Ruzyně, thirty-five winter wheat cultivars from six countries were tested during 2007–2013. The cultivars Bill, Nadro, Quebon, Samurai, Stava and Tommi exhibited infection levels below 10% in the respective years of the test. Additionally, 75 breeding lines from six countries were tested. Infection levels below 1% were recorded in 56% of the lines and 1–10% levels in 19% of the lines. A close relationship between the resistant cvs. Tommi and Globus was confirmed using SSR allelic markers.