The effect of Fusarium culmorum on yield and grain characteristics of winter wheat cultivars

Abstract

The response to Fusarium culmorum infection was studied in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in baking quality. Deoxynivalenol (DON) content, grain yield and characteristics: test weight, thousand kernel weight, falling number, crude protein content, sedimentation index, wet gluten content and gluten index, were evaluated in wheat grown in field trials, established within two distinct environments in three successive harvest years. There were significant differences in the level of DON content between the locations, harvest years and cultivars. Considering the entire data set from the whole trial, F. culmorum infection systematically influenced all the considered variables, except for wet gluten content, with significant interactions with other factors in most cases. Results of the experiment confirmed the multi-factorial nature of Fusarium head blight disease and emphasized the fact, that although currently there is no fully resistant winter wheat cultivar available, there are substantial differences in susceptibility among the currently grown ones. Because of the multi-factorial nature of Fusarium head blight disease, protection measures should rely on more factors as well. The choice of less susceptible cultivar should be one of them.