Relationship between cultivar height and severity of Fusarium ear blight in wheat

Abstract

A significant negative relationship between tiller height and resistance to Fusarium ear blight (FEB), following inoculation, was observed in 17 cultivars of winter wheat in the 1995/96 growing season. Tall cultivars such as Kraka and Spark showed fewer symptoms of FEB (6 and 4%) than the shorter cultivars Brigadier and Virtue (35 and 51%). To determine if this relationship was caused by a genetic association or an effect of the microclimate, height and disease were measured in segregating populations derived from tall × short cultivars and humidity was measured in near-isogenic lines with and without the Rht1 and Rht2 dwarfing genes. Among random F 3 populations there was a clear tendency for tall strawed lines to show less severe disease symptoms than shorter strawed lines following inoculation. The effect of the individual dwarfing genes Rht1 and Rht2 on the severity of FEB was also studied in an inoculation trial using a number of near-isogenic lines of Maris Huntsman and Maris Widgeon. Within isogenic lines of Maris Huntsman, there was a clear tendency for tall straw to be associated with fewer symptoms, but this was not apparent within lines of Maris Widgeon. Monitoring relative humidity at ear height in a short and tall isogenic line of Maris Huntsman revealed no significant differences between these genotypes from GS 65 to GS 85, suggesting that microclimate cannot explain differences in severity of FEB between these lines. It is suggested that there are independent genes affecting the severity of FEB that may allow plant breeders to select resistant cultivars of any height.

Comparison of bread wheat varieties with different breeding origin under organic and low input management

“…Table 3), which is in line with the report of Wolfe et al (2008). In organic farming, plant height is an essential trait in competing against weeds (Gooding et al 1993;Mason and Spaner 2006) or diseases (especially fusarium head blight, if ears are developed far above the canopy) (Hilton et al 1999) through the enhanced ground coverage and shading effect. This study could demonstrate the effectiveness of this organic breeding target through the organic varieties taken under examination.…”

Cereal resistance to Fusarium head blight and possibilities of its improvement through breeding

“…For example the cultivars Estica, Hana, Virtue and Caribo can be considered as parents occurring more frequently in pedigrees of moderately resistant germplasm. While Estica and Hana can be considered moderately or medium resistant to FHB (Hana only to the accumulation of mycotoxins in grain) according to available literature (Váňová et al 2001;, semi-dwarf Virtue and tall Caribo do not evidently possess a desirable resistance level (Bandurska et al 1994;Hilton et al 1999). Out of the five registered cultivars tested for resistance to FHB that are descendants of Estica, four cultivars (Simila, Sakura, Romanus and Centenaire) can be considered moderately resistant while Drifter has to be regarded as susceptible.…”

Indirect selection for lower deoxynivalenol (DON) content in grain in a winter wheat population

“…Various studies (Mesterhazy 1995;Hilton et al 1999;Buerstmayr et al 2000;Somers et al 2003) reported that several different morphological traits had an influence on FHB index and DON accumulation. However, lack of consensus among the reported effects might be attributed to the different combinations of conditions and background envi-ronments under which the experiments were conducted.…”