Field resistance of Martonvásár winter wheat cultivars against Fusarium head blight

Abstract

Fifty Triticum aestivum genotypes, including winter wheat cultivars from Martonvásár, were tested for fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance under artificially inoculated conditions. Field resistance, kernel infection, and the relative yield components (test weight, thousand kernel weight and kernel weight/heads) were examined following infection with Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum isolates. Using data from two years, a number of Martonvásár varieties with above-average resistance to FHB were identified. On the basis of field infection, AUDPC values close to those of resistance sources were calculated for the variety Mv Emese, while 67.5% of the varieties tested had values which did not differ significantly from those of the control variety Arina. The yield components examined were modified substantially by artificial FHB infection. The thousand kernel weight and test weight of the variety exhibiting the greatest degree of infection were only 21.14% and 25.58%, respectively, of the untreated control. In one case the decline in the kernel weight/head was more than 90%. The results of multivariable statistical analysis indicated that among the Hungarian wheat genotypes, Bánkúti 1201, B9086-95 (a line derived from Bánkúti 1201), Mv Emese, Martonvásári4 and Mv Táltos could be grouped with the best sources of resistance. The experimental data revealed wide genetic variability for FHB resistance in the Martonvásár breeding stock.