An Evaluation of Selection Criteria for Tolerance to Fusarium Graminearum in Triticale

Abstract

Scab caused by Fusarium graminearum Sschw. (Giberella tea Pech) is a major production constraint of triticale grown under high rainfall situations in the high valleys of Sierra Tarasca in Central Mexico. Twenty-one spring triticale lines were evaluated during 1992 to assess associations between 13 different characters and tolerance to scab, estimated as coefficient of infection (CI). Data were analyzed using phenotypic correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis. Days to heading were negatively associated with CI and explained 80% of the scab infection in the spike. Four indexes based on four principal components were defined. Genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Genotypes combining high levels of resistance to F. graminearum with high grain yield and high test weight could be identified. NR - 0 PU - KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBL PI - DORDRECHT PA - PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS