Specificity in reaction of winter wheat varieties Simonida and Zvezdana to fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum species complex

Important tool for the integrated control of Fusarium head blight (FHB) is monitoring changes in the prevalence of Fusarium species and toxin production. The knowledge of factors influencing FHB infection is usually related to climatic factors, tillage practice and the level of resistance/susceptibility of wheat varieties. However, little is known on differences in reactions of varieties on members of Fusarium species complexes. In this study, F. graminearum species complex (FGSC) was monitored on two winter wheat varieties Simonida and Zvezdana, created in Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad. We analyzed 83 FGSC isolates collected from 21 locations in 2019. The study included four regions in Serbia (Vojvodina, Belgrade, Southern and Eastern Serbia and Šumadija and Western Serbia). Monitoring of FGSC populations were made using species- and trichothecene-specific primers. Species specific primers were Fg16F/R and Fgr-F/Fgc-R. Trichothecene genotyping was performed using the primer sets (Tri303F/R, Tri315F/R, and Tri5F/R) for the sequences of the Tri3, and Tri5 genes. Tri-5-specific PCR assay was used to assess the genetic potential of F. graminearum isolates for mycotoxin production. We used multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), to investigate associations between Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), location, variety, members of the FGSC, and their predisposition for mycotoxin production. On average, the FDK of Simonida was 11.8% while it was 22.1% in Zvezdana.