Field evaluation of spring wheat varieties and breeding lines to Fusarium head blight infection and mycotoxin accumulation in southeast Idaho

Authors: Yimer, Belayneh; ARCIBAL BALDWIN, SUZETTE - North Dakota State University; ABDULLAH, SIDRAT - University Of Idaho; DONG, YANHONG - University Of Minnesota; MARSHALL, JULIET - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Plant Health Progress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2025
Publication Date: 1/8/2026
Citation: Yimer, B.A., Arcibal Baldwin, S., Abdullah, S., Dong, Y., Marshall, J. 2026. Field evaluation of spring wheat varieties and breeding lines to Fusarium head blight infection and mycotoxin accumulation in southeast Idaho. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-06-25-0161-RS.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-06-25-0161-RS

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease that affects wheat and barley and is caused by a fungus called Fusarium graminearum. It is becoming more common in the Pacific Northwest. The fungus also produces a toxin called DON, which can make the grain unsafe for human and animal consumption. One way to manage the disease and reduce toxin levels is by using wheat varieties that are resistant to FHB. However, most wheat currently grown in the region is susceptible to the disease and tends to accumulate high levels of toxin. To address this problem, field experiments were conducted in Aberdeen, Idaho from 2017 to 2022. Their goal was to identify wheat varieties that are both resistant to FHB and produce low levels of toxin. Over the six years, about 16% of the varieties tested showed some resistance to both the disease and the toxin. These resistant varieties could be recommended to farmers in areas prone to FHB. They may also be used in wheat breeding programs to develop new, more resistant wheat varieties in the future.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB) is an emerging disease of small grains in the Pacific Northwest driven by increased use of pivot irrigation, expansion of corn acreage, and the growing prevalence of Fusarium graminearum. The use of resistant varieties reduces both FHB and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in harvested grain. However, most spring wheat varieties currently grown in the region are susceptible to FHB, resulting in high levels of DON upon infection. To support the adoption of resistant varieties and reduce FHB pressure, screening nurseries were established at Aberdeen, ID over six growing seasons (2017-2022). These nurseries contained widely grown wheat varieties and advanced breeding lines. Corn spawn inoculum derived from a population of F. graminearum isolates collected from Idaho was applied at a rate of 30 g/m2 three weeks before anthesis of most varieties. FHB incidence and disease severity were evaluated at soft dough while FHB index was calculated from disease incidence and severity values. DON concentration was determined at the University of Minnesota from harvested grain samples. Disease pressure varied over the years. On average, across multiple years, 15.9% of the varieties showed moderate resistance to both FHB and DON accumulation. This included five hard red spring, one hard white spring and eight soft white spring wheat varieties. None of the varieties had DON content below the 1-ppm threshold level for human consumption, however, 17 varieties (11.5%) had DON content below the 5-ppm threshold level suitable for animal feed. Varieties selected in this study with low disease severity and DON accumulation may be used as sources of resistance to improve resistance to FHB in their respective market classes.