Potential synergistic effect of selected mushroom extracts and presence of the Fhb7 resistance locus in novel bread wheat Thinopyrum spp. recombinants in the control of Fusarium diseases
Author(s)
Date Issued
2025
Type
conferenceObject
Abstract
Fusarium head blight, mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe (teleomorph Gibberella
zeae) and crown rot, caused by F. culmorum and F. pseudograminearum, are major wheat diseases
which significantly reduce grain yield and quality worldwide. The primary concern associated
with these diseases is the contamination of the grain-based food and feed by secondary fungal
metabolites, specifically mycotoxins of the trichothecene group, which pose serious health risks
to humans and animals. In this study, we preliminary evaluated the antifungal activity of extracts
from the fruiting bodies of various mushroom species as potentially novel biological agents. We
also assessed their synergistic effect with Fhb7, a major Fusarium resistance gene derived from
alien Thinopyrum spp. wheatgrasses, against infection by F. graminearum pathotypes isolated in
Serbia. Four chromosomally engineered bread wheat-Thinopyrum spp. recombinants carrying the
alien Fhb7 resistance locus either from Th. elongatum or Th. ponticum on the 7DL chromosome
arm, along with susceptible control lines lacking Fhb7, were used. The antifungal activity of
extracts from fruiting bodies of three diverse mushroom species, i.e. Trametes versicolor,
Fomes fometarius and Ganoderma applanatum, were tested in vitro against three F. graminearum
strains. The overall highest antifungal activity in vitro was exhibited by T. versicolor, causing a
30% reduction in Fusarium spp. growth. The potential synergistic effect of mushroom extracts
and presence of the Fhb7 locus was evaluated by applying 30 mg/ml extract concentration onto
seeds and 2-leaf seedlings of Fhb7 carrier and control genotypes previously inoculated with
F. graminearum strains. Typical seedling blight symptoms, assessed with the Assess 2.0, Image
Analysis Software for Plant Disease Quantification, were observed on susceptible genotypes,
whereas resistant Fhb7 genotypes showed no visible signs of disease. This study is the first to
identify mushroom extracts with antifungal activity against Serbian Fusarium spp. pathotypes.
Moreover, it confirms the broad efficacy of the Fhb7 locus, here proved to extend to these
specific pathotypes, and provides a basis for optimizing synergy-based application protocols,
which are currently under development.
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