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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » WHGQ » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361946
Research Project: Biology, Ecology, and Genomics of Pathogenic and Beneficial Microorganisms of Wheat, Barley, and Biofuel Brassicas

Location: Wheat Health, Genetics, and Quality Research

Title: Determination of Fusarium Crown Rot Resistance to Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium pseudogramineaum Using Real Time PCR

Author
item OZDEMIR, FATIH - Konya Food And Agricultural University
item KOC, N. - Cukurova University
item Paulitz, Timothy
item NICOL, JULIE - International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
item SCHROEDER, KURTIS - University Of Idaho
item POOLE, GRANT - Bayer Crop Sciences, Germany

Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/24/2020
Publication Date: 5/1/2020
Citation: Ozdemir, F., Koc, N.K., Paulitz, T.C., Nicol, J.M., Schroeder, K.L., Poole, G. 2020. Determination of Fusarium Crown Rot Resistance to Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium pseudogramineaum Using Real Time PCR. Crop Protection. 135,105204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105204.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105204

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium crown rot is a major disease of wheat worldwide. One of the major problems in breeding for resistance is screening wheat germplasm in the greenhouse, based on symptoms. In a series of inoculated growth chamber experiments, using susceptible and tolerant varieties, we examined the correlation between this method and a method that quantifies the pathogen based on DNA. In conclusion, there were examples of varieties that were resistant and tolerant (low levels of DNA and disease), resistant and intolerant (low levels of DNA, but higher levels of disease) and susceptible and intolerant (high levels of DNA and disease).

Technical Abstract: Wheat cultivars from Turkey and the Pacific Northwest of the US were screened for resistance to Fusarium crown rot (Fusarium pseudograminearum and Fusarium culmorum) in inoculated growth chamber studies. Fungal DNA was also quantified from the lower stems (crowns) of seedlings using quantitative PCR, and crown rot scores were correlated with DNA results. There were significant differences among the cultivars for crown rot severity index (p=0.0265), crown score (p=0.0003), disease index on leaf sheaths (p=0.0013), lesion length (p=0.02), and plant height (p<0.0001). The crown score and plant height measurements also showed that F. culmorum was more virulent than F. pseudograminearum. The correlations were strongest between crown score and DNA levels at the second harvest, and much stronger with F. culmorum compared to F. pseudograminearum. Some susceptible varieties such as Seri had both a high disease score and a high level of DNA, with both F. culmorum and F. pseudograminearum. On the other hand, varieties such as Matt, Sunco and Otis showed intermediate to high crown scores in response to F. culmorum, but much lower levels of DNA than Seri. In the case of 2-49, Burbot-6 and CT000161, in response to F. culmorum, they showed low levels of disease and low levels of DNA. In conclusion, there were examples of varieties that were resistant and tolerant (low levels of DNA and disease), resistant and intolerant (low levels of DNA, but higher levels of disease) and susceptible and intolerant (high levels of DNA and disease). Quantitative PCR in combination with classical phenotyping of resistance to Fusarium crown rot may provide a tool for distinguishing resistance and tolerance in breeding efforts.