Effect of extended irrigation and host resistance on deoxynivalenol accumulation in Fusarium-infected wheat

Deoxynivalenol (DON) levels are not easily predicted from visual disease assessment, and it is thought likely that environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture influence DON accumulation. This field study examined the influence of environmental moisture on DON accumulation in Fusarium-infected wheat (Triticum aestivum). The effect of extended mist irrigation applied from inoculation (at anthesis) until harvest was compared with mist irrigation applied from inoculation until disease assessment (at early dough), as is generally applied in screening nurseries used for germplasm selection and cultivar improvement. DON concentrations were quantified in kernels at early dough, hard dough, kernel hard, and maturity. Kernels from plots with extended mist irrigation generally had lower DON concentrations than those from plots where mist irrigation was not applied following disease assessment. DON concentrations tended to decrease from disease assessment until harvest, regardless of the irrigation treatment. DON concentrations in the cultivars moderately resistant to Fusarium head blight were lower than those in the susceptible cultivar. Environmental moisture is an important factor determining the DON content of Fusarium-infected wheat.