Research regarding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) resistance to Tilletia caries (DC.) Tul. infection

Abstract

Common bunt caused by species of Tilletia genus presents an important and constantly increasing cause from an economically point of view and this because of major climate change in recent years that have contributed to record high production losses, sometimes even with a technology culture applied correctly. During 2011-2013 period, at the Ezareni Farm from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine there were tested 24 domestic and foreign wheat varieties grown under non-irrigated and artificially infected conditions with Tilletia caries (DC.) Tul . pathogen. The wheat caryopses artificially infected with fungus teliospores were sown in a randomized block type experiences in 4 repetitions. During the growing season there have been made constant observations in order to determine the morphological and biometric characteristics of wheat varieties under study. Considering the climatic conditions, based on observations that were made during of the two-year study, the 24 varieties showed a high variability resistance to Tilletia caries (DC.) Tul. pathogen attack. Following artificial infection of 24 wheat varieties there were identified 13 resistant varieties with values of the attack spikes smaller than 5%, 6 tolerant varieties with a disease frequency between 5-10% and two susceptible varieties with frequency of attacked ears upwards of 15%.