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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #323188
Title: Response of a collection of waxy (reduced amylose) wheat breeding lines to Fusarium graminearum

Author
item Funnell-Harris, Deanna
item Graybosch, Robert

Submitted to: National Fusarium Head Blight Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2015
Publication Date: 12/6/2015
Citation: Funnell-Harris, D.L., Graybosch, R.A. 2015. Response of a collection of waxy (reduced amylose) wheat breeding lines to Fusarium graminearum. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proceedings (pp.87). East Lansing, MI/Lexington, KY: U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Inititiative.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Loss of function mutations in the Waxy (Wx) gene encoding granule bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) that synthesizes amylose, result in starch granules containing mostly amylopectin. Wheat grain with this trait has increased usability for some foods due to the ability to modify starch composition and nutritional value in the end product. However, impaired GBSSI activity may alter grain and starch structure and, consequently, responses to pathogens. There are no published reports on response of waxy wheats to Fusarium head scab. A screen of colonization by Fusarium graminearum of waxy breeding lines and wild-type and waxy checks was conducted at Mead, NE, 2014. Grain was either surface disinfested before plating, or directly plated, onto medium semi-selective for Fusarium spp., indicating internal or both internal and superficial infections, respectively. Grains with fungal growth were enumerated for each line and grain treatment. Non-disinfested waxy grains (69.5%) were significantly less colonized as compared with wild-type (78.9%) (P < 0.01). Surface disinfested grains of both phenotypes had similar levels of infection (14.4% for wild-type versus 10.0% for waxy; P = 0.07). Fungal colonies growing onto the medium were transferred and morphologically identified as similar to Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium spp. or other fungi. Along with F. graminearum, F. verticillioides, F. equiseti and F. acuminatum, were common in wild-type grain, while the most commonly detected species in waxy grain was F. proliferatum. These preliminary results indicated that waxy wheats are not more susceptible to F. graminearum than wild-type. Analyses of mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol will be needed to confirm whether these promising waxy lines in development are not more susceptible to F. graminearum than non-waxy lines.