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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 #316189
Title: Near-infrared spectroscopic evaluation of single kernel deoxynivalenol accumulation and Fusarium head blight resistance components in wheat

Author
item PEIRIS, K. H. - Kansas State University
item BOCKUS, WILLIAM - Kansas State University
item Dowell, Floyd

Submitted to: Cereal Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/2015
Publication Date: 3/1/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62141
Citation: Peiris, K.S., Bockus, W.W., Dowell, F.E. 2016. Near-infrared spectroscopic evaluation of single kernel deoxynivalenol accumulation and Fusarium head blight resistance components in wheat. Cereal Chemistry. 93(1):25-31. doi: 10.1094/CCHEM-03-15-0057-R.

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a destructive disease of wheat and has severely affected the economic outlook of major wheat growing communities in the Northern Great Plains. In this study, we used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to determined FHB symptoms, single kernel deoxynivalenol (DON) levels, and distribution of DON levels among kernels in wheat cultivars that had different levels of FHB resistance. The percentage of DON-containing spikelets/spike were significantly different among point inoculated spikes of cultivars with different levels of resistance. The percentage of visually Fusarium damaged kernels in point inoculated susceptible cultivars was significantly higher than the resistant cultivar. However, values for spray inoculated spikes were not significantly different among the three cultivars. DON levels in spikelets below the inoculated spikelet in point inoculated spikes showed marked differences among the three cultivars. The susceptible cultivar had the highest DON accumulation in kernels. This NIRS method may be used to evaluate wheat cultivars for FHB resistance components such as resistance to pathogen infection, resistance to pathogen spread, and resistance to toxin accumulation. This information can then be used by breeders to improve their efforts to develop FHB-resistant cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB) symptoms, single kernel deoxynivalenol (DON) levels, and distribution of DON levels among kernels were investigated in wheat cultivars that had different levels of FHB resistance. DON levels were estimated using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The percentage of DON-containing spikelets/spike (DCS) of 15.2%, 49.7% and 89.1% were significantly different among point inoculated spikes of Everest that has moderate resistance, Karl 92 that has intermediate resistance, and Overley that is susceptible to FHB, respectively. The percentage of visually Fusarium damaged kernels (VFDK) in point inoculated Karl 92 and Overley spikes was significantly higher than for Everest. However, DCS and VFDK values for spray inoculated spikes were not significantly different among the three cultivars. In spray inoculated spikes, DON levels in kernels ranged from 0 - 291.3 ppm while the variation of DON levels in spikelet positions was random. In contrast, DON levels in spikelets below the inoculated spikelet in point inoculated spikes showed marked differences among the three cultivars. Overley had the highest DON accumulation in kernels. This NIRS method may be used to evaluate wheat cultivars for FHB resistance components such as resistance to pathogen infection, resistance to pathogen spread, and resistance to toxin accumulation.