Interaction of methyl-jasmonate and Fusarium poae in bread wheat

DINOLFO M.I.; MARTINEZ M ; CASTAÑARES E.; VANZETTI L.S; ROSSI F; STENGLEIN S.A.; ARATA A.F

Fungal Biology

Elsevier

Año: 2022 vol. 125 p. 786 - 792

1878-6146

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is a devastating disease that affects the grain yield and quality of essentialcrops such as wheat. In the last years, some Fusarium species have acquired particular importance asFusarium poae. However, studies to evaluate F. poae-wheat interaction are still scarce. The interactionbetween F. poae and two bread wheat cultivars with different resistance levels against FHB was evaluated.Moreover, the application of methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) was evaluated as a possible tool to reducethe fungal presence. Our results showed that the MeJA treatment is isolate-dependent, reducing F. poaefungal growth. A decrease in fungal biomass was observed in the susceptible cultivar after MeJA application;however, no differences between inoculated and inoculated-MeJA treatments were observed inthe resistant cultivar. Finally, the F. poae inoculation induces the expression of PR1-1 and PDF 1.2, beingearly in the resistant cultivar compared to the susceptible ones. The application of MeJA combined withthe F. poae inoculation increased PR1-1 and PDF1.2 expressions in resistant cultivars. To our knowledge,this is the first study that evaluates the interaction between F. poae and wheat and the MeJA treatment asa possible management strategy against this important pathogen.