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A Method to Inoculate Millet Grain-Colonized Fusarium pseudograminearum on Wheat to Obtain Reproducible Disease Symptoms

Summary

Scientists developed a standardized method to test wheat varieties for resistance to Fusarium crown rot, a serious fungal disease that damages wheat crops. The method uses millet grains colonized with the disease-causing fungus as inoculum, which is more reproducible and efficient than previous approaches. By testing this on wheat seedlings in controlled greenhouse conditions, researchers can quickly identify wheat varieties with natural resistance, which helps plant breeders develop better disease-resistant wheat crops.

Background

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is a devastating soil-borne disease of wheat caused primarily by Fusarium pseudograminearum, particularly prevalent in China’s Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. The disease causes stem base necrosis, whitehead development, and significant yield and quality reduction. Current greenhouse screening methods lack standardization and reproducibility, hindering accurate assessment of disease-resistant wheat germplasm.

Objective

To establish a robust and standardized FCR inoculation system utilizing F. pseudograminearum propagated on millet grain substrate for rapid and reliable evaluation of wheat host resistance and fungal pathogenicity. This system aims to enable high-throughput screening of disease-resistant wheat germplasm under controlled greenhouse conditions.

Results

The susceptible wheat cultivar Fielder developed severe crown rot symptoms with a mean disease index of 62.92 ± 8.13, while the resistant cultivar Xinong 529 showed significantly lower susceptibility with a disease index of 22.08 ± 5.91. The method successfully differentiated disease resistance levels between wheat varieties at 14 days post-inoculation and demonstrated high infection efficiency and strong reproducibility.

Conclusion

The standardized millet grain-based inoculation protocol provides a reliable, reproducible method for assessing Fusarium crown rot resistance in wheat germplasm. This system enables accurate quantification of F. pseudograminearum pathogenicity and facilitates high-throughput screening of resistant wheat varieties under controlled environmental conditions, supporting wheat breeding programs.
  • Published in:Bio Protoc,
  • Study Type:Protocol Development Study,
  • Source: 10.21769/BioProtoc.5438, PMID: 41000160
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