Reaction of Oat Genotypes to Fusarium equiseti (Corda) Sacc. Infection and Mycotoxin Concentrations in Grain

Fusarium head blight and the contamination of cereals with toxic fungal metabolites are particularly important problems in global agriculture. The increasingly frequent isolation of F. equiseti from cereal grain and the sparse information in the literature on the harmfulness of this fungus to oat encouraged us to conduct the present research. The aim of the study was to determine the susceptibility of oat genotypes to panicle infection by F. equiseti and mycotoxin content in the grain. Field experiments involving 10 oat genotypes were conducted over three years (2015-2017). Oat panicles were inoculated with a conidial suspension of F. equiseti, which reduced the kernels yield by 38.34%, the number of kernels per panicle by 31.16% and 1000 kernels weight by 12.66%. F. equiseti accumulated type A trichothecenes (T-2 and HT-2 toxins, scirpentriol, diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 triol, T-2 tetraol) and type B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, 3Ac-DON, 15Ac-DON, nivalenol, fusarenone X) in kernels at an average level of 0.0616 and 0.2035 mg center dot kg(-1), respectively. The highest susceptibility to scabs caused by F. equiseti was found for genotype POB 4901/10, whereas cv. Elegant exhibited the highest resistance to F. equiseti in terms of yield reduction after inoculation.

Automated summary

This study investigated the susceptibility of 10 oat genotypes to Fusarium equiseti infection and mycotoxin content in grains, finding a reduction in yield, number of kernels per panicle, and weight of 1000 kernels after inoculation. F. equiseti accumulated various mycotoxins in kernels, with average levels of 0.0616 and 0.2035 mg·kg(-1) for type A and type B trichothecenes, respectively. Genotype POB 4901/10 exhibited the highest susceptibility to scabs, while cv. Elegant showed the highest resistance to yield reduction after inoculation with F. equiseti.