Euphytica (1999) 110, 199-206

Hermann Buerstmayr, M. Lemmens, S. Berlakovich and P. Ruckenbauer (1999)
Combining ability of resistance to head blight caused by Fusarium culmorum (WG Smith) in the F-1 of a seven parent diallel of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Euphytica 110 (3), 199-206
Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB, scab) caused by Fusarium spp. is a widespread disease of cereals causing relevant yield and quality losses and contaminating cereal products with mycotoxins. Breeding resistant cultivars is the method of choice for controlling the disease. Resistance to FHB is a quantitative trait and is most likely governed by several genes. We present the results of an F₁ diallel analysis of FHB resistance involving six resistant and one susceptible European winter wheat genotypes of diverse origin in order to identify promising combinations for the selection of improved cultivars. Parents and F₁s including reciprocals were evaluated for FHB resistance in an artificially inoculated field trial. Two traits were assessed: visual disease symptoms on the heads and the percentage of Fusarium damaged kernels in a harvested sample. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were statistically significant for visual symptoms and kernel damage, whereas reciprocal effects were small or not significant. Heterosis for resistance was common, indicating that the parental genotypes possess different resistance genes. Selection of transgressive segregates should be feasible from such heterotic combinations.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Hermann Buerstmayr, Marc Lemmens

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Fusarium culmorum	Wheat (Triticum)