Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) infections do not only result in a decline in wheat production but contribute to mycotoxin contaminated grain. Different FHB resistance sources, both major and minor genes/quantitative trait loci (QTL), are available for deployment. However, FHB resistance breeding is complicated by the quantitative nature of the resistance sources and multiple gene combinations are required for efficient field resistance. In this study three major FHB resistance genes/QTL (Fhb1, Qfhs.ifa-5AS and Qfhs.ifa-5Ac) present in the wheat variety CM82036 were used in a backcross breeding programme and transferred to Krokodil, a South African irrigation spring wheat variety. Experimental wheat lines with different combinations of the three resistance genes/QTL were phenotypically and genotypically characterised. After phenotypic evaluation at 21 days post inoculation, inoculated wheat spikes were subjected to quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis to quantify the β-tubulin and Tri5 genes relative to the reference translation elongation factor EF-G wheat gene. Phenotypic data revealed lower FHB infection levels for developed wheat lines containing resistance genes/QTL compared to their negative controls. Expected higher β-tubulin:EF-G ratios were obtained for lines containing no resistance genes/QTL. However, low variation between the Tri5:EF-G ratios was observed between wheat varieties. Over entries, the β-tubulin:EF-G ratios were positively correlated with percentage FHB spikelet infection, indicating the usefulness of these methods. Wheat experimental lines with high levels of FHB resistance were identified and can be used as parents in future breeding programmes and for evaluation in field trials.
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The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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This study was partly funded by the Winter Cereal Trust (WCT/W/2006/02) and the National Research Foundation (SARChI chair UID 8464), South Africa.
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Ansori Maré wrote the manuscript and analysed the data. Liezel Herselman initiated the study. Liezel Herselman and Willem Boshoff supervised the study. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Maré, A., Boshoff, W.H.P. & Herselman, L. Phenotypic assessment and fungal gene quantification of Fusarium graminearum in wheat. Euphytica 218, 113 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-022-03068-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-022-03068-y