Efficiency of indirect selection for fusarium head blight resistance and mycotoxin accumulation in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat and can lead to significant yield losses as well as a contamination of the crop with mycotoxins that are a major concern in cereal‐based food and feed products. The aims of this study were thus to investigate the relationship between resistance against multiple Fusarium species and to assess the potential of an indirect phenotypic and genomic selection for the resistance against the accumulation of several mycotoxins in wheat. Strong phenotypic and genetic correlations between the mycotoxin contents, FHB severity and FHB‐associated traits were observed, irrespective of if traits were assessed in trials inoculated with a DON or HT‐2/T‐2 producing Fusarium species. A multi‐stage phenotypic or genomic selection with low anther retention being used for an indirect selection among early generation selection candidates, followed by an evaluation of the pre‐selected set in disease nurseries, and lastly by assessing the mycotoxin content of the most promising genotypes is suggested as a suitable strategy to breed for wheat cultivars with reduced risk of mycotoxin accumulation.

Fusarium head blight resistance measured by type II inoculation method among UK wheat cultivars and investigations into the relationship with anthers trapped and anthers retained

“…This work indicates the utility of distinguishing between anthers retained and anthers trapped, measuring both separately (Graham & Browne, 2009) or combined (Akohoue et al, 2022), although assessing for anthers retained is more time consuming (Michel et al, 2024). However, later heading was correlated to fewer trapped anthers and a greater number of retained anthers, when assessed at one date 5 or 10 days post the onset of anthesis of the earliest variety.…”

“…For example, a number of resistance/disease escape and susceptibility mechanisms associated with the wheat spike morphology have been identified including cleistogamy (Gilsinger et al, 2005;Kubo et al, 2010) and the role of anthers (McKay & Loughnane, 1945;Pugh et al, 1933;Strange & Smith, 1971). Notably anther extrusion has received attention as a phenotypic selection tool (Buerstmayr & Buerstmayr, 2015;Graham & Browne, 2009;He et al, 2014He et al, , 2016Kubo et al, 2013;Lu et al, 2013;Michel et al, 2024;Muqaddasi, Pillen, et al, 2017;Muqaddasi, Reif, et al, 2017;Skinnes et al, 2008), with extruded anthers relating to greater resistance across a range of genotypes and mapping populations. Anthers are considered to provide nutrients (Pearce et al, 1976;Strange et al, 1974;Strange & Smith, 1971) and little resistance to infection (Skinnes et al, 2010).…”

“…It is notable that anther extrusion has high heritability in field expression (Skinnes et al, 2010). Ghiasi et al (1982) reported selection for anther extrusion did not cause significant adverse effects on heading date, plant height, grain yield test weight or grain protein percentage and has been applied to selection breeding crosses and selection (Michel et al, 2024) successfully increasing resistance to FHB.…”

Mycotoxin contamination in organic and conventional cereal grain and products: A systematic literature review and meta‐analysis

“…However, there has been considerable progress in the identification of FHB-resistance QTLs and the understanding of the role of other morphological and phenological traits on FHB resistance that can be exploited in both conventional and organic farming-focused breeding programs. For a recent review of the "Efficiency of indirect selection for fusarium head blight resistance and mycotoxin accumulation in winter wheat" see Michel et al (2024). The most promising strategy to reduce mycotoxin contamination risks without reducing yields in conventional farming is therefore the use of crop breeding/selection (including molecular-assisted breeding and selection tools) to introduce fungal resistance traits other than increased stem length (Buerstmayr et al, 2020;Ghimire et al, 2020;Liu et al, 2021;Rempelos et al, 2023;Siddiq & Vemireddy, 2021).…”