Infection of wheat tissues by fusarium pseudograminearum

Abstract

Crown rot of wheat is a significant cause of yield losses in many wheat producing countries. In Australia crown rot is predominantly caused by the fungus Fusarium pseudograminearum (teleomorph Gibberella coronicola). Partial resistance has been identified in a small number of wheat lines, such as 2-49 and Sunco, but the mechanisms of resistance shown by these lines have not been identified. This study aims to identify key growth periods of F. pseudograminearum during crown rot development in wheat and compare these periods across partially resistant and susceptible lines in order to determine how the disease progresses and when resistance mechanisms are induced.