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Evaluation of Inoculation Methods to Determine Resistance Reactions of Wheat to Fusarium graminearum

Reliable greenhouse assays are needed to differentiate types of resistance in wheat to Fusarium graminearum. Genotypes with known field reactions were evaluated for resistance type using four greenhouse inoculation techniques. Percentage of spikelets with symptoms per spike (severity) and percentage of inoculated spikelets per spike developing symptoms were assessed 7, 10, and 14 days after inoculation (DAI). Genotypes were evaluated using disease assessments 14 DAI and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Significant genotype-inoculation technique interactions for disease assessments indicated that genotypes responded differently to greenhouse inoculation techniques. The central floret injection technique used to assess resistance to spread within the spike (type II resistance) did not indicate a resistant response in genotypes with low field disease severity (putative type II). Atomizing macroconidia onto spikes, used to assess resistance to primary infection (type I resistance), indicated a resistant response in one of five genotypes with low field disease incidence (percentage of spikes with symptomatic spikelets) (putative type I). The inoculation techniques in the greenhouse were unable to differentiate between different types of partial resistance. Results indicated disparity in the ability of greenhouse inoculation methods to identify genotypes with partial resistance as observed in the field. It was concluded that atomizing conidia onto the spikes and assessing disease severity did not differentiate between resistance types. Additionally, a one-time assessment 14 DAI was determined to be as informative as multiple assessments and calculating the AUDPC.