et al., 2002), Roegneria kamoji (Ohwi) Ohwi ex Keng (Liu et al., 2000), R. ciliaris (Trin.) Nevski, Leymus Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is racemosus (Lam.) Tzvel (Chen and Liu, 2000). Studies a devastating disease in wheat production worldwide. Identifying resistance genes and understanding the genetic basis of resistance to FHB of the inheritance of FHB resistance have shown that are prerequisites to developing cultivars that can avoid losses from it is a complex trait conditioned by oligo-or multiple FHB. This investigation of quantitative trait loci (QTL) was performed genes (Bai and Shaner, 1994; Van Ginkel et al., 1996; in a recombinant inbred (RI) population derived from a cross between Singh et al., 1995; Ban and Suenage, 2000). Complete the FHB-moderately susceptible cv. Patterson and the FHB-resistant resistance in wheat has not been reported to date. The line Fundulea 201R (F201R). Bulk DNAs from the 11 most resistant goal of conventional breeding for FHB resistance is to and 12 most susceptible lines of the phenotypic distribution of the pyramid resistance genes from various gene pools to RI population, together with the parental lines, were screened with increase the resistance level. However, frequently one simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Regional QTL mapping idenis not certain which FHB resistance gene(s) have been tified four interval regions, located on chromosomes 1B, 3A, 3D, integrated into breeding lines. In addition, disease evaland 5A, that conferred resistance to FHB. The QTLs located on chromosomes 1B and 3A, contributed by F201R, had large effects uation is problematic because of large effects of environand were consistently expressed in three environments. The four QTLs ment on disease establishment and development after together accounted for 32.7% of the phenotypic variation, or 43.0% infection. In the field, some lines may escape infection of the genotypic variation. The QTL on chromosome 3A is located if they flower during a dry or cool period, whereas lines in the same region as a QTL that was detected in wild tetraploid that flower during wet and warm weather may be sewheat T. dicoccoides (Koern. ex Asch. & Graebner) Aarons. The verely infected. Molecular markers offer the opportupossibility that the FHB resistance QTLs of F201R and that of T.nity to select specific genotypes to increase selection effidicoccoides on chromosome 3A have the same origin is discussed. ciency.Mapping efforts to date have identified a major gene on chromosome 3BS in the Chinese wheat line Sumai

-Seventy two wheat cultivars and breeding lines were tested for at least two years in up to ten European countries for resistance against leaf rust under field conditions. In addition, seedling resistance was determined with local races and with defined isolates to postulate resistance genes. Nine entries (Batis, Capo, RE9001, RE9801, Terza, Toronit, Titlis, Barra, Beaufort) were highly resistant at all locations, and were regarded as excellent sources of resistance for breeding programs. Two thirds of the 72 entries possess adult plant and/or partial resistance. Cultivars with the gene Lr13 differed greatly in disease response showing that Lr13 alone does not provide adequate resistance in Europe. Gene Lr37 provided generally good adult plant resistance but seedlings with this gene were moderately susceptible. Many of the wheat cultivars/lines investigated possess unidentified adult plant resistance gene(s). Seedling resistance was attributable mostly to the genes Lr1, Lr3a, Lr3ka, Lr10, Lr14a, Lr17b, Lr20 or Lr26. Triticum aestivum / Puccinia recondita / wheat / leaf rust / resistance Résumé -Résistance du germplasme de blé d'hiver européen à la rouille des feuilles. Pendant au moins deux ans, 72 cultivars et lignées de sélection avancées de blé ont été testées aux champs dans dix pays européens pour évaluer la résistance à la rouille des feuilles. De plus, la résistance a été évaluée lors d'essais en laboratoire sur des plantules infec-

et al., 2002), Roegneria kamoji (Ohwi) Ohwi ex Keng (Liu et al., 2000), R. ciliaris (Trin.) Nevski, Leymus Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is racemosus (Lam.) Tzvel (Chen and Liu, 2000). Studies a devastating disease in wheat production worldwide. Identifying resistance genes and understanding the genetic basis of resistance to FHB of the inheritance of FHB resistance have shown that are prerequisites to developing cultivars that can avoid losses from it is a complex trait conditioned by oligo-or multiple FHB. This investigation of quantitative trait loci (QTL) was performed genes (Bai and Shaner, 1994; Van Ginkel et al., 1996; in a recombinant inbred (RI) population derived from a cross between Singh et al., 1995; Ban and Suenage, 2000). Complete the FHB-moderately susceptible cv. Patterson and the FHB-resistant resistance in wheat has not been reported to date. The line Fundulea 201R (F201R). Bulk DNAs from the 11 most resistant goal of conventional breeding for FHB resistance is to and 12 most susceptible lines of the phenotypic distribution of the pyramid resistance genes from various gene pools to RI population, together with the parental lines, were screened with increase the resistance level. However, frequently one simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Regional QTL mapping idenis not certain which FHB resistance gene(s) have been tified four interval regions, located on chromosomes 1B, 3A, 3D, integrated into breeding lines. In addition, disease evaland 5A, that conferred resistance to FHB. The QTLs located on chromosomes 1B and 3A, contributed by F201R, had large effects uation is problematic because of large effects of environand were consistently expressed in three environments. The four QTLs ment on disease establishment and development after together accounted for 32.7% of the phenotypic variation, or 43.0% infection. In the field, some lines may escape infection of the genotypic variation. The QTL on chromosome 3A is located if they flower during a dry or cool period, whereas lines in the same region as a QTL that was detected in wild tetraploid that flower during wet and warm weather may be sewheat T. dicoccoides (Koern. ex Asch. & Graebner) Aarons. The verely infected. Molecular markers offer the opportupossibility that the FHB resistance QTLs of F201R and that of T.nity to select specific genotypes to increase selection effidicoccoides on chromosome 3A have the same origin is discussed.

Fusarium head blight (FHB, scab), caused by Fusarium graminearum or F. culmorum, results in yield and quality reductions and accumulation of mycotoxins. Two inoculation methods are commonly used. Spraying a spore suspension on the head (spray inoculation) will detect resistance to initial infection (type I) and to disease spread within the spike (type II). Injecting a spore suspension into individual florets (point inoculation) will detect type II resistance only. To analyze the association of spray and point inoculation, 20 elite winter wheat cultivars from Romania, Germany, and Switzerland were inoculated in factorial field experiments in seven environments (location x year combinations) in Germany and Romania. Response to FHB was assessed by the percentage of visually infected spikelets and head weight relative to the noninoculated control. Point and spray inoculations resulted in a mean disease severity varying from 52 to 63%. Significant (P = 0.01) genotypic variation was found within and across the environments. Genotype-environment interaction was important also. Estimates of entry-mean heritability were higher for spray than for point inoculation as assessed by percent infected spikelets (0.81 versus 0.77) and relative head weight (0.77 versus 0.52). Significant (P = 0.01) interaction was found between inoculation methods. Consequently, coefficients of phenotypic correlation between both methods were low to medium for percent infected spikelets (0.40, P > 0.1) and relative head weight (0.52, P = 0.05). We conclude that the application of both inoculation methods should provide additional information for selection and scientific studies. Spray inoculation, however, is less laborious for large-scale routine screening of breeding materials.

1990). Using monosomic analysis, Yu (1982) located genes for resistance to FHB in 'Soo-mo3' on five chro-Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the major diseases of wheat mosomes (2A, 5A, 1B, 6D and 7D), while Ban and (Triticum aestivum L.). Genetic control of resistance to Fusarium spp. has been studied in resistant Chinese spring wheat cultivars, but Suenaga (1997), on the basis of the linkage with a suplittle is known about inheritance of lower but useful levels of resistance pressor gene for awnedness, located one of the resisfound in winter wheat. This study was undertaken to characterize the tance genes from Sumai 3 on the long arm of chromogenetic control of FHB resistance and to identify possible associations some 5A or 6B. Buerstmayr et al. (1997) positioned of resistance with several marker loci in winter wheat. Recombinant FHB resistance genes in one Sumai 3 derivative on inbred lines were derived from the cross of a susceptible winter wheat, chromosomes 5A, 1B, 3B, 4B, 6B, and 6D and in another F1054W, with a moderately resistant parent, Sincron, not related to derivative on chromosomes 3A, 3B, 6B, and 4D.