Effect of cultivation practices on diversity in susceptibility reactions of winter wheat genotypes to Fusarium head blight

Abstract

Reports on the effectiveness of Fusarium head blight (FHB) control measures do not follow the same pattern in different regions, and the combined effects of abiotic and biotic factors on FHB are not fully understood. Consequently, the main objective of this study was to examine divergence in susceptibility reactions of winter wheat genotypes to FHB when exposed to the combined effects of cultivation practices, cultivar properties, year and the presence of interacting Fusarium spp. as an inherent whole. Analysed data originated from 633 grain samples collected from 434 localities in an eight-year period as a part of investigations related to the develop-ment of the DONcast? Europe prediction model. This study suggests that ploughing could increase the risk of the occurrence of less frequent toxigenic Fusarium species. Stubble management generated more divergent envi-ronmental factors than no-till farming, influencing greater variability in the relationship between deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation and grain infection. The results of this study indicated differences in susceptibility reactions of varieties to FHB and suggested that more attention should be focused on the specificity of the interaction between variety and combined environmental stressors to ensure more predictive and sustainable wheat production.