Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #187384

Title: FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN TETRAPLOID WHEAT

Author
item OLIVER, R. - PLNT SCI, NDSU, FARGO ND
item CAI, X. - PLNT SCI, NDSU, FARGO ND
item STACK, R. - PLNT PATH NDSU, FARGO ND
item Friesen, Timothy
item HALLEY, S. - LANGDON EXT CTR LANGDON N
item Xu, Steven

Submitted to: National Fusarium Head Blight Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2005
Publication Date: 12/11/2006
Citation: Oliver, R.E., Cai, X., Stack, R.W., Friesen, T.L., Halley, S., Xu, S.S. 2005. Fusarium head blight resistance in tetraploid wheat. In: Proceedings of 2005 National Fusarium Head Blight Forum, December 11-13, 2005, Wilwaukee, WI. pp. 79.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Host resistance has been considered a cost-efficient and environmentally sound strategy to combat Fusarium head blight (FHB); however, progress in developing FHB-resistant wheat cultivars has been hindered by a lack of effective sources of resistance. Although resistant sources have been identified and utilized in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n = 6x = 42, genomes AABBDD), sources of resistance in durum wheat (T. turgidum ssp. durum L., 2n = 4x = 28, genomes AABB) are scarce. The objective of this study is to identify germplasm that may be used to enhance FHB resistance in durum wheat. The plant materials comprised 393 accessions of five cultivated subspecies under T. turgidum. These subspecies include cultivated emmer wheat [T. turgidum ssp. dicoccum (Schrank ex Schübler) Thell.], Persian wheat [T. turgidum ssp. carthlicum (Nevski) Á. Löve and D. Löve], Polish wheat [T. turgidum ssp. polonicum (L.) Thell.], oriental wheat [T. turgidum ssp. turanicum (Jakubz.) Á. Löve and D. Löve], and poulard wheat (T. turgidum ssp. turgidum). These accessions were evaluated for Type II FHB resistance (resistance to the spread of infection) by single spikelet inoculation over three greenhouse seasons. Approximately eighty accessions showed a level of resistance similar to ‘Sumai 3’, the Chinese common wheat cultivar considered the standard for FHB resistance. Sixty-seven of the 80 accessions identified as resistant to FHB in the greenhouse were further evaluated for FHB reaction in mist-irrigated field nurseries in two locations (Fargo and Langdon, ND). The grain spawn method of inoculation was used. Eighteen accessions exhibited resistance comparable to Sumai 3 in both locations. These resistant tetraploid wheat accessions represent a novel source of FHB resistance and could be utilized directly in durum wheat breeding. Introgression of FHB resistance from these tetraploid wheat accessions to durum is in progress.