REACTION OF TRITICALE, WHEAT AND RYE ACCESSIONS TO GRAMINEOUS FUSARIUM SPP INFECTION AT THE SEEDLING AND ADULT-PLANT GROWTH-STAGES

Pathogenicity of 20 isolates of 12 Fusarium species recovered from triticale seed against seedlings of 14 varieties of winter cereals (triticale, wheat, and rye) was tested. The most pathogenic inoculum was a mixture of isolates (a composite isolate) of all the species. The following species were individually the most pathogenic: F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. sambucinum var. coeruleum, and F. graminearum. Winter triticale was more resistant to seedling blight than rye but more susceptible than wheat. Also reactions of 31 winter and 12 spring varieties of cereals to head inoculation with a composite isolate of 4 Fusarium spp. (F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, and F. sambucinum var. coeruleum) was studied. In comparison to other cereals of similar type winter and spring wheat appeared to be the most susceptible while winter rye reaction was comparable to winter triticale. Spring and winter triticale varieties responded to head infection intermediately. There was no significant correlation between seedling and head reactions to infection with Fusarium spp. for winter rye and triticale. For winter wheat a negative trend was found. The above findings imply that screening of cereals at the seedling stage can not be used to predict the resistance to head blight. Nevertheless, resistance at the stage is highly desirable to prevent excessive damage of the crops due to the seedling blight incited by Fusarium spp..