Comparative Field Analysis of Wheat Genotypes Differing in Fusarium Head Blight Resistance

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major fungal disease of cereal crops, including wheat, barley, and maize, causing significant yield and quality losses and contaminating grain with mycotoxins that threaten human and animal health. In the present study, 158 wheat genotypes were evaluated at the Research Farm of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar, during the rabi seasons 2022-23 for their response to fusarium head blight under artificially inoculated field conditions. The experiment was conducted using a macroconidial suspension of Fusarium graminearum (1 × 10⁵ conidia ml⁻¹) applied twice at a 24-h interval at the mid-anthesis stage using a knapsack sprayer. Disease severity was assessed as percent spikelet infection at 7, 14, and 21 days after inoculation, and disease progress was quantified using the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and relative AUDPC (rAUDPC). Substantial variation in fusarium head blight response was observed among genotypes. None of the entries exhibited immune or resistant reactions. Based on AUDPC values, 12 genotypes were categories as moderately resistant (AUDPC 101–200), while the majority were moderately susceptible (56 genotypes) or susceptible (87 genotypes). Three genotypes i.e., Sonalika, Raj 4015, and HPW 487 were identified as highly susceptible, showing severe disease development. rAUDPC analysis identified only a few genotypes with slow disease progression, indicating partial resistance. Disease score–based categorization corroborated AUDPC findings. Overall, the study highlights limited resistance to fusarium head blight in the evaluated germplasm and underscores the need for intensified resistance breeding in wheat.