SEEDLING RESISTANCE OF SOME WHEAT LINES AND CULTIVARS TO ROOT AND CROWN ROT CAUSED BY Fusarium pseudograminearum O’Donnell & T. Aoki

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum spp.), one of the most important crops in human nutrition, is cultivated in large areas around the world. Fusarium pseudograminearum O’Donnell & T. Aoki is one of the most destructive pathogens of wheat causing root and crown rot. For soilborne plant pathogens, it is difficult to find resistant genotypes. Finding resistant germplasm is an important goal in plant breeding studies. In this study, 104 bread and durum wheat genotypes were tested for resistance to root and crown rot under greenhouse conditions using a virulent F. pseudograminearum isolate. No resistant cultivars or lines were observed among the tested durum wheat cultivars and durum wheat lines. Three of the genotypes used in the bread wheat yield trial exhibited resistant reactions, while 15 exhibited moderately resistant reactions. Three bread wheat advanced lines were classified as moderately resistant. No resistant cultivars were found among the tested bread wheat cultivars, with Ahsen, Dinçer, Altınbaşak, Yakamoz, and Karatopak exhibiting moderately resistant reactions.