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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283584
Title: Differential accumulation of deoxynivalenol in two winter wheat cultivars varying in FHB phenotype response under field conditions

Author
item HERNANDEZ NOPSA, JOHN - University Of Nebraska
item BAENZIGER, P. STEPHEN - University Of Nebraska
item ESKRIDGE, KENT - University Of Nebraska
item PEIRIS, KAMARANGA H. - Kansas State University
item Dowell, Floyd
item HARRIS, STEVEN - University Of Nebraska
item WEGULO, STEPHEN - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/9/2012
Publication Date: 7/10/2012
Citation: Hernandez Nopsa, J.F., Baenziger, P., Eskridge, K.M., Peiris, K.S., Dowell, F.E., Harris, S.D., Wegulo, S.N. 2012. Differential accumulation of deoxynivalenol in two winter wheat cultivars varying in FHB phenotype response under field conditions. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology. 34(3):380-389.

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium head blight (FHB), or scab, is a destructive disease of small grain cereals. FHB also produces the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), which accumulates in and lowers the value and quality of grain. Field experiments were conducted from 2007 to 2009 to determine if two winter wheat cultivars accumulated DON differently. We also modeled the relationship between FHB severity and DON accumulation. The moderately resistant cultivar ‘Harry’ consistently accumulated more DON than the susceptible cultivar ‘2137’. The relationship between FHB severity and DON was linear and positive for both cultivars in all three years. Environment had a significant effect on DON accumulation in both cultivars, and this effect was attributed to differences in rainfall amount and duration in the months of May and June. DON accumulation was highest in 2008 when there was steady, above-average rainfall in May and June. FDK was highest in 2008 and was higher in ‘Harry’ than in ‘2137’. The results from this study suggest that a winter wheat cultivar with a moderately resistant FHB phenotype can be susceptible to FDK and DON accumulation. Based on these results, there is a need to standardize the criteria for characterizing wheat cultivars as resistant or susceptible to FHB.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB) or scab, caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe [sexual stage Gibberella zeae (Schwein.) Petch], is a destructive disease of small grain cereals. Fusarium graminearum produces the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), which accumulates in and lowers the value and quality of grain. Field experiments were conducted from 2007 to 2009 to determine if two winter wheat cultivars varying in FHB phenotype response differentially accumulated DON. Secondary objectives were to model the relationship between FHB severity and DON, determine if environment (= year) influenced DON accumulation in the two cultivars, and measure the percentage of Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) in the two cultivars. The cultivar ‘Harry’ with a moderately resistant FHB phenotype consistently accumulated more DON (P = 0.0358) than ‘2137’ with a susceptible phenotype. The relationship between FHB severity and DON was linear and positive for both cultivars in all three years (0.32 = R2 = 0.60; 0.0053 = P = 0.1092). Environment (= year) had a significant effect (P < 0.0001) on DON accumulation in both cultivars, and this effect was attributed to differences in rainfall amount and duration in the months of May and June. DON accumulation was highest in 2008 (average of 33.2 ppm in ‘Harry’ and 21.2 ppm in ‘2137’) when there was steady, above-average rainfall in May and June. FDK was highest in 2008 and was higher in ‘Harry’ (64%) than in ‘2137’ (46%). The results from this study suggest that a winter wheat cultivar with a moderately resistant FHB phenotype can be susceptible to FDK and DON accumulation. Based on these results, there is a need to standardize the criteria (FHB intensity, FDK, DON) for characterizing wheat cultivars as resistant or susceptible to FHB.