Differences in physiological traits at the initial stage of Fusarium head blight infection in wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is leading cereal crop worldwide, but its yield is highly affected due to various diseases, especially Fusarium head blight (FHB), which affects the metabolism of plants. The present study was conducted at the Agricultural Institute Osijek using three winter wheat cultivars (Apache, Bezostaya1, and U1) during 2016/2017. The objectives of our studies were to examine differences in physiological characteristics of FHB resistance among wheat cultivars in the early stage of infection. The FHB incidence and severity was the highest in 'Bezostaya1'. Results suggest that activation of some anti-oxidative enzymes in the first 2 h after Fusarium attack was not efficient to prevent disease. 'Apache', which revealed an average FHB incidence, efficiently activated defence response through phenol metabolism elevation. The most effective defence response trough activation of anti-oxidative enzymes triggered by H2O2 was revealed in 'U1', which resulted in a minimal FHB incidence and disease severity. The obtained results confirm differences in defence strategies of wheat genotypes.