Growth of Fusarium graminearum on wheat bran/agar cultures in relation to Fusarium head blight susceptibility

Research investigates the chemical basis for Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance and initiating development of a screening test for resistant wheat genotypes. The focus is on minimizing cost of screening and gaining chemical approach against FHB. Wheat bran/agar plates (8% bran, w/v) prepared from hard red spring wheat with different susceptibility to FHB were inoculated with F. graminearum. Fusarium plaque diameters and ergosterol levels after 4 days of growth were significantly lower ( p< 0.05) on plates prepared from genotypes with low FHB susceptibility than from high FHB susceptible genotypes. F. graminearum growth was lower, when methanol-soluble compounds (MSC) extracted from a low FHB susceptibility genotype, Glenn, were added to high susceptibility genotype, Samson. Wheat bran/agar plates enriched with linoleic acid significantly ( p<0.05) reduced the growth rate of F. graminearum in both Glenn and Samson genotypes. Oxygenated fatty acids, including monohydroxy- and dihydroxy- fatty acids were identified in the MSC.