Abstract
Wheat is a cereal of special importance in the world cereal production. Fusarium head blight is one of the most important diseases of wheat caused by phytopathogenic Fusarium species that significantly reduce wheat production. This disease reduces grain yield and quality and causes the presence of harmful mycotoxins. The purpose of this study is to test the effect of Fusarium infection on wheat quality parameters in two wheat varieties Alföld and Mv Karéj. The results showed that Fusarium infection was higher in 2021 (91.47% and 95.20%) compared to 2020 (44.33% and 40.27%) in the two wheat varieties used Alföld and Mv Karéj respectively. In Alföld, Fusarium infection had a negative effect on protein content, test weight, thousand kernel weight, gluten content and Zeleny sedimentation index, whereas falling number was not affected. In Mv Karéj, Fusarium infection had a negative effect on test weight, thousand kernel weight, falling number and Zeleny sedimentation index, whereas protein content and gluten content were not affected. Although Fusarium infection reduced wheat quality, Mv Karéj showed a stable protein and gluten content whereas Alföld showed a stable falling number. Thus, Mv Karéj is more tolerant to Fusarium infection compared to Alföld.
Introduction
Wheat is a cereal of special importance in the world cereal production. During crop production, both abiotic and biotic stresses occur, often acting in combinations under field conditions (Mittler, 2002) and potentially increase sensitivity to pathogens. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating fungal diseases of wheat and other small grain cereals and has caused serious epidemics worldwide (Bai et al., 2003) The major fungal pathogen associated with this disease in wheat is Fusarium graminearum (Kikot et al., 2011). During the wheat's flowering stage, Fusarium infection occurs when weather conditions become favorable. The infection begins in the middle of the wheat spike and then spreads throughout the rest of it, eventually causing the entire ear spike to turn white and the kernels to become light-weight and shrivelled (Kelly et al., 2015). Occurrence of FHB can be a serious problem because of several reasons, such as considerable economic losses caused by lowered yield, deteriorated grain quality (Bottalico and Perrone, 2002; Argyris et al., 2003; Prange et al., 2005), and possible contamination of infested grain with mycotoxins that are known to be harmful for both consumer and livestock health (Dexter and Nowicki, 2003).
In many regions, severe intensity of FHB occurs in cultivated wheat approximately two to three times per decade (Shaner, 2003; Stack, 2003; Champeil et al., 2004). Severe yield losses can occur during the epidemic year which are largely determined by the weather (Mesterházy et al., 2020). Thus, growers use multiple control measures to protect crops against FHB infections and prevent yield loss. The most important ways to control FHB are the use of FHB tolerant wheat varieties, good planting practices, fungicides, biological controls, and crop rotation (Mesterházy et al., 2015; Dendouga et al., 2016; Sakr and Shoaib, 2021).
Fusarium head blight poses a toxicological risk due to the mycotoxin contamination of wheat. In addition, it may influence grain components such as starch and proteins (Siuda et al., 2010) and impair wheat quality essential for baking performance (Lancova et al., 2008). Those biochemical changes in grain composition and subsequent changes in wheat quality traits are caused by the incomplete accumulation of the kernel constituents through the mechanical blocking of vascular bundles by fungal mycelium (Kang and Buchenauer, 2000; Ribichich et al., 2000; Goswami and Kistler, 2004) or through the impaired synthesis of grain components due to the presence of mycotoxins (Eriksen and Pettersson, 2004). Moreover, during the invasion of the kernel, Fusarium ssp. secretes enzymes such as carbohydrases and proteases that degrade the cell wall and the kernel components (Pekkarinen and Jones, 2000; Dexter and Nowicki, 2003; Eggert et al., 2011). As a result, FHB infection leads to poor end use quality (Dexter and Nowicki, 2003). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Fusarium infection on wheat quality parameters: falling number, protein and gluten content, test weight, thousand kernel weight and Zeleny sedimentation index.
Material and methods
Two winter wheat varieties Alföld and Mv Karéj were examined under identical agronomic conditions in a long-term field trial. The trial was run at the Gödöllő experimental field of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The soil type of the experimental field is chernozem (calciustoll). Plots were sown and harvested by plot machines. The rate of sowing was 450–500 seeds per square meter. Weeds were controlled by herbicide and wheat pests and diseases beside Fusarium were controlled by pesticide. Each variety had a total plot area of 75 m2. Each plot was then divided into 15 sub-plots of 5 m2 each to create replications. At the end of the growing season, wheat grain samples were collected from each sub-plot and measured for Fusarium infection, protein content, gluten content, test weight, thousand kernel weight, falling number and Zeleny sedimentation index. Wheat kernels (100 kernels from each sample) were sanitized with a solution of PCNB and chloramphenicol and incubated under laboratory conditions on Nash and Snyder Fusarium selective medium (Distilled water 1 l, Peptone 15 g, KH2PO4 1 g, MgSO47H2O 0.5 g, Agar 20 g, PCNB 1 g, Chloramphenicol 100 ppm). After 7 days we counted the number of colonies to determine the level of Fusarium infection. The quality parameters were measured from wheat grain samples. Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic equipment Mininfra Scan-T Plus 2.02 version was used to measure gluten, protein, and Zeleny sedimentation values of whole grains. Falling number was determined with Perten Type:1400 system, which meets the requirements of ICC method No. 107/1 1995. Test weight was measured with OS 1 type equipment which meets the requirements of ISO 7971-3:2019. Test weight and thousand kernel weight were determined with the KERN EMS and the Sartorius MA-30 precision scales. To determine the effect of Fusarium infection on wheat quality parameters, the linear regression module at 5% significance level of IBM SPSS V.21 statistical software was used. In addition, analysis of variance (ANOVA) module at 5% significance level was performed to determine the influence of growing season on Fusarium infection and quality parameters in Alföld and Mv Karéj varieties.
Results
Fusarium infection level
Growing season significantly affected Fusarium infection [F = 135.813, P = 0.000] and [F = 100.952, P = 0.000]. Fusarium infection was higher in 2021 (91.47% and 95.20%) compared to 2020 (44.33% and 40.27%), in the two wheat varieties Alföld and Mv Karéj used, respectively (Table 1). Simple linear regression is used to test the effect of Fusarium infection on the following wheat quality parameters: protein content, test weight, thousand kernel weight, falling number, gluten content, and Zeleny sedimentation index.
Descriptive statistics and ANOVA for the influence of growing season on Fusarium infection and quality parameters in Alföld and Mv Karéj varieties
| Descriptive statistics | Mean | Std. Deviation | Std. Error | Minimum | Maximum | ||
| Fusarium Infection | Alföld | 2020 | 44.33 | 14.60 | 3.77 | 20 | 66 |
| 2021 | 91.47 | 5.68 | 1.47 | 80 | 100 | ||
| Total | 67.90 | 26.32 | 4.81 | 20 | 100 | ||
| Mv Karéj | 2020 | 40.27 | 20.71 | 5.35 | 12 | 88 | |
| 2021 | 95.20 | 4.39 | 1.13 | 88 | 100 | ||
| Total | 67.73 | 31.57 | 5.76 | 12 | 100 | ||
| Protein Content | Alföld | 2020 | 14.75 | 0.88 | 0.23 | 13.10 | 16.20 |
| 2021 | 13.41 | 0.71 | 0.18 | 12.70 | 15.20 | ||
| Total | 14.08 | 1.04 | 0.19 | 12.70 | 16.20 | ||
| Mv Karéj | 2020 | 14.81 | 0.62 | 0.16 | 13.50 | 15.80 | |
| 2021 | 14.35 | 0.73 | 0.19 | 13 | 15.40 | ||
| Total | 14.58 | 0.71 | 0.13 | 13 | 15.80 | ||
| Test Weight | Alföld | 2020 | 75.10 | 1.22 | 0.31 | 72.70 | 77.30 |
| 2021 | 72.76 | 1.32 | 0.34 | 70.30 | 75.20 | ||
| Total | 73.93 | 1.72 | 0.31 | 70.30 | 77.30 | ||
| Mv Karéj | 2020 | 81.04 | 0.65 | 0.17 | 79.50 | 82.00 | |
| 2021 | 79.33 | 0.68 | 0.18 | 77.70 | 80.35 | ||
| Total | 80.19 | 1.09 | 0.20 | 77.70 | 82.00 | ||
| Thousand Kernel Weight | Alföld | 2020 | 45.91 | 2.19 | 0.57 | 42.05 | 48.95 |
| 2021 | 39.65 | 1.15 | 0.30 | 37.50 | 41.30 | ||
| Total | 42.78 | 3.62 | 0.66 | 37.50 | 48.95 | ||
| Mv Karéj | 2020 | 43.09 | 1.86 | 0.48 | 40.55 | 45.70 | |
| 2021 | 41.61 | 2.30 | 0.59 | 38.84 | 45.08 | ||
| Total | 42.35 | 2.19 | 0.40 | 38.84 | 45.70 | ||
| Falling Number | Alföld | 2020 | 430.27 | 52.96 | 13.67 | 360 | 526 |
| 2021 | 419.40 | 33.78 | 8.72 | 349.50 | 467 | ||
| Total | 424.83 | 43.99 | 8.03 | 349.50 | 526 | ||
| Mv Karéj | 2020 | 415.67 | 43.59 | 11.26 | 348 | 502 | |
| 2021 | 364.20 | 20.95 | 5.41 | 328 | 397 | ||
| Total | 389.93 | 42.60 | 7.78 | 328 | 502 | ||
| Gluten Content | Alföld | 2020 | 30.00 | 2.94 | 0.76 | 25.70 | 35.80 |
| 2021 | 24.79 | 2.29 | 0.59 | 21.40 | 29.80 | ||
| Total | 27.39 | 3.71 | 0.68 | 21.40 | 35.80 | ||
| Mv Karéj | 2020 | 29.17 | 1.96 | 0.51 | 25.20 | 32.60 | |
| 2021 | 28.65 | 1.86 | 0.48 | 25.30 | 32.70 | ||
| Total | 28.91 | 1.89 | 0.35 | 25.20 | 32.70 | ||
| Zeleny Sedimentation Index | Alföld | 2020 | 53.50 | 5.63 | 1.45 | 45.30 | 62.30 |
| 2021 | 38.40 | 5.79 | 1.49 | 28.90 | 50.30 | ||
| Total | 45.95 | 9.51 | 1.74 | 28.90 | 62.30 | ||
| Mv Karéj | 2020 | 60.57 | 8.97 | 2.32 | 44.40 | 71.90 | |
| 2021 | 49.47 | 4.88 | 1.26 | 40.60 | 56.90 | ||
| Total | 55.02 | 9.07 | 1.66 | 40.60 | 71.90 |
| ANOVA | Sum of Squares | df | Mean Square | F | Sig. | ||
| Fusarium Infection | Alföld | Between Groups | 16661.633 | 1 | 16661.633 | 135.813 | 0.000 |
| Within Groups | 3435.067 | 28 | 122.681 | ||||
| Total | 20096.700 | 29 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Between Groups | 22632.533 | 1 | 22632.533 | 100.952 | 0.000 | |
| Within Groups | 6277.333 | 28 | 224.190 | ||||
| Total | 28909.867 | 29 | |||||
| Protein Content | Alföld | Between Groups | 13.467 | 1 | 13.467 | 20.862 | 0.000 |
| Within Groups | 18.075 | 28 | 0.646 | ||||
| Total | 31.542 | 29 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Between Groups | 1.587 | 1 | 1.587 | 3.443 | 0.074 | |
| Within Groups | 12.907 | 28 | 0.461 | ||||
| Total | 14.494 | 29 | |||||
| Test Weight | Alföld | Between Groups | 40.950 | 1 | 40.950 | 25.338 | 0.000 |
| Within Groups | 45.252 | 28 | 1.616 | ||||
| Total | 86.202 | 29 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Between Groups | 21.845 | 1 | 21.845 | 48.936 | 0.000 | |
| Within Groups | 12.499 | 28 | 0.446 | ||||
| Total | 34.345 | 29 | |||||
| Thousand Kernel Weight | Alföld | Between Groups | 294.220 | 1 | 294.220 | 96.249 | 0.000 |
| Within Groups | 85.592 | 28 | 3.057 | ||||
| Total | 379.812 | 29 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Between Groups | 16.398 | 1 | 16.398 | 3.743 | 0.063 | |
| Within Groups | 122.656 | 28 | 4.381 | ||||
| Total | 139.054 | 29 | |||||
| Falling Number | Alföld | Between Groups | 885.633 | 1 | 885.633 | 0.449 | 0.508 |
| Within Groups | 55241.533 | 28 | 1972.912 | ||||
| Total | 56127.167 | 29 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Between Groups | 19866.133 | 1 | 19866.133 | 16.984 | 0.000 | |
| Within Groups | 32751.733 | 28 | 1169.705 | ||||
| Total | 52617.867 | 29 | |||||
| Gluten Content | Alföld | Between Groups | 203.841 | 1 | 203.841 | 29.351 | 0.000 |
| Within Groups | 194.457 | 28 | 6.945 | ||||
| Total | 398.299 | 29 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Between Groups | 2.028 | 1 | 2.028 | 0.557 | 0.462 | |
| Within Groups | 101.891 | 28 | 3.639 | ||||
| Total | 103.919 | 29 | |||||
| Zeleny Sedimentation Index | Alföld | Between Groups | 1710.075 | 1 | 1710.075 | 52.412 | 0.000 |
| Within Groups | 913.580 | 28 | 32.628 | ||||
| Total | 2623.655 | 29 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Between Groups | 925.185 | 1 | 925.185 | 17.748 | 0.000 | |
| Within Groups | 1459.583 | 28 | 52.128 | ||||
| Total | 2384.768 | 29 |
Protein content
In Alföld, growing season significantly affected protein content [F = 20.862, P = 0.000] (Table 1). It was lower in 2021 (13.41%) compared to 2020 (14.75%). Fusarium infection had a strong negative effect on protein content in wheat [R = −0.682], protein content decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and protein content is y = −0.027x + 15.917. The regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.465, F = 24.309, P = 0.000] (Fig. 1, Table 2).
Influence of Fusarium infection (%) on protein content (%)
Citation: Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 58, 2; 10.1556/038.2023.00179
Model summary, ANOVA and coefficients for the influence of Fusarium infection on quality parameters in Alföld and Mv Karéj varieties
| Model Summary | R | R Square | Adjusted R Square | Std. Error of the Estimate | |
| Protein Content | Alföld | 0.682 | 0.465 | 0.446 | 0.777 |
| Mv Karéj | 0.310 | 0.096 | 0.064 | 0.684 | |
| Test Weight | Alföld | 0.626 | 0.391 | 0.370 | 1.369 |
| Mv Karéj | 0.692 | 0.479 | 0.460 | 0.800 | |
| Thousand Kernel Weight | Alföld | 0.765 | 0.585 | 0.570 | 2.373 |
| Mv Karéj | 0.454 | 0.206 | 0.178 | 1.986 | |
| Falling Number | Alföld | 0.142 | 0.020 | −0.015 | 44.315 |
| Mv Karéj | 0.428 | 0.183 | 0.154 | 39.176 | |
| Gluten Content | Alföld | 0.716 | 0.512 | 0.495 | 2.635 |
| Mv Karéj | 0.009 | 0.000 | −0.036 | 1.926 | |
| Zeleny Sedimentation Index | Alföld | 0.747 | 0.557 | 0.542 | 6.440 |
| Mv Karéj | 0.613 | 0.375 | 0.353 | 7.294 |
| ANOVA | Sum of Squares | df | Mean Square | F | Sig. | ||
| Protein Content | Alföld | Regression | 14.658 | 1 | 14.658 | 24.309 | 0.000 |
| Residual | 16.884 | 28 | 0.603 | ||||
| Total | 31.542 | 29 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Regression | 1.392 | 1 | 1.392 | 2.974 | 0.096 | |
| Residual | 13.102 | 28 | 0.468 | ||||
| Total | 14.494 | 29 | |||||
| Test Weight | Alföld | Regression | 33.737 | 1.000 | 33.737 | 18.005 | 0.000 |
| Residual | 52.466 | 28.000 | 1.874 | ||||
| Total | 86.202 | 29.000 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Regression | 16.445 | 1.000 | 16.445 | 25.724 | 0.000 | |
| Residual | 17.900 | 28.000 | 0.639 | ||||
| Total | 34.345 | 29.000 | |||||
| Thousand Kernel Weight | Alföld | Regression | 222.123 | 1.000 | 222.123 | 39.441 | 0.000 |
| Residual | 157.689 | 28.000 | 5.632 | ||||
| Total | 379.812 | 29.000 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Regression | 28.644 | 1.000 | 28.644 | 7.264 | 0.012 | |
| Residual | 110.411 | 28.000 | 3.943 | ||||
| Total | 139.054 | 29.000 | |||||
| Falling Number | Alföld | Regression | 1139.541 | 1.000 | 1139.541 | 0.580 | 0.453 |
| Residual | 54987.626 | 28.000 | 1963.844 | ||||
| Total | 56127.167 | 29.000 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Regression | 9645.185 | 1.000 | 9645.185 | 6.285 | 0.018 | |
| Residual | 42972.682 | 28.000 | 1534.739 | ||||
| Total | 52617.867 | 29.000 | |||||
| Gluten Content | Alföld | Regression | 203.948 | 1.000 | 203.948 | 29.383 | 0.000 |
| Residual | 194.351 | 28.000 | 6.941 | ||||
| Total | 398.299 | 29.000 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Regression | 0.009 | 1.000 | 0.009 | 0.002 | 0.962 | |
| Residual | 103.910 | 28.000 | 3.711 | ||||
| Total | 103.919 | 29.000 | |||||
| Zeleny Sedimentation Index | Alföld | Regression | 1462.319 | 1.000 | 1462.319 | 35.257 | 0.000 |
| Residual | 1161.336 | 28.000 | 41.476 | ||||
| Total | 2623.655 | 29.000 | |||||
| Mv Karéj | Regression | 895.056 | 1.000 | 895.056 | 16.823 | 0.000 | |
| Residual | 1489.712 | 28.000 | 53.204 | ||||
| Total | 2384.768 | 29.000 |
| Coefficients | Unstandardized Coefficients | Standardized Coefficients | t | Sig. | |||
| B | Std. Error | Beta | |||||
| Protein Content | Alföld | Fusarium | −0.027 | 0.005 | −0.682 | −4.930 | 0.000 |
| (Constant) | 15.917 | 0.398 | 39.989 | 0.000 | |||
| Mv Karéj | Fusarium | −0.007 | 0.004 | −0.310 | −1.725 | 0.096 | |
| (Constant) | 15.047 | 0.300 | 50.196 | 0.000 | |||
| Test Weight | Alföld | Fusarium | −0.041 | 0.010 | −0.626 | −4.243 | 0.000 |
| (Constant) | 76.714 | 0.702 | 109.332 | 0.000 | |||
| Mv Karéj | Fusarium | −0.024 | 0.005 | −0.692 | −5.072 | 0.000 | |
| (Constant) | 81.802 | 0.350 | 233.474 | 0.000 | |||
| Thousand Kernel Weight | Alföld | Fusarium | −0.105 | 0.017 | −0.765 | −6.280 | 0.000 |
| (Constant) | 49.920 | 1.216 | 41.038 | 0.000 | |||
| Mv Karéj | Fusarium | −0.031 | 0.012 | −0.454 | −2.695 | 0.012 | |
| (Constant) | 44.483 | 0.870 | 51.119 | 0.000 | |||
| Falling Number | Alföld | Fusarium | −0.238 | 0.313 | −0.142 | −0.762 | 0.453 |
| (Constant) | 441.002 | 22.715 | 19.414 | 0.000 | |||
| Mv Karéj | Fusarium | −0.578 | 0.230 | −0.428 | −2.507 | 0.018 | |
| (Constant) | 429.057 | 17.167 | 24.993 | 0.000 | |||
| Gluten Content | Alföld | Fusarium | −0.101 | 0.019 | −0.716 | −5.421 | 0.000 |
| (Constant) | 34.234 | 1.350 | 25.350 | 0.000 | |||
| Mv Karéj | Fusarium | −0.001 | 0.011 | −0.009 | −0.049 | 0.962 | |
| (Constant) | 28.944 | 0.844 | 34.287 | 0.000 | |||
| Zeleny Sedimentation Index | Alföld | Fusarium | −0.270 | 0.045 | −0.747 | −5.938 | 0.000 |
| (Constant) | 64.266 | 3.301 | 19.468 | 0.000 | |||
| Mv Karéj | Fusarium | −0.176 | 0.043 | −0.613 | −4.102 | 0.000 | |
| (Constant) | 66.938 | 3.196 | 20.942 | 0.000 | |||
In Mv Karéj, growing season did not affect protein content [F = 3.443, P = 0.074] (Table 1). Fusarium infection had no effect on protein content [R = −0.310]. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and protein content is y = −0.007x + 15.047. The regression is not statistically significant [R2 = 0.096, F = 2.974, P = 0.096] (Fig. 1, Table 2).
Test weight
In Alföld, growing season significantly affected test weight [F = 25.338, P = 0.000] (Table 1). It was lower in 2021 (72.76 kg hL−1) compared to 2020 (75.10 kg hL−1). Fusarium infection had a strong negative effect on test weight [R = −0.626], test weight decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and test weight is y = −0.041x + 76.714. The regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.391, F = 18.005, P = 0.000] (Fig. 2, Table 2).
Influence of Fusarium infection (%) on test weight (kg hL−1)
Citation: Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 58, 2; 10.1556/038.2023.00179
In Mv Karéj, growing season significantly affected test weight [F = 48.936, P = 0.000] (Table 1). It was lower in 2021 (79.33 kg hL−1) compared to 2020 (81.04 kg hL−1). Fusarium infection had a strong negative effect on test weight in wheat [R = −0.692], test weight decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and test weight is y = −0.024 + 81.802. The regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.479, F = 25.724, P = 0.000] (Fig. 2, Table 2).
Thousand kernel weight
In Alföld, growing season significantly affected thousand kernel weight [F = 96.249, P = 0.000] (Table 1). It was lower in 2021 (39.65 g) compared to 2020 (45.91 g). Fusarium infection had a strong negative effect on thousand kernel weight in wheat [R = −0.765], thousand kernel weight decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and thousand kernel weight is y = −0.105x + 49.920. The regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.585, F = 39.441, P = 0.000] (Fig. 3, Table 2).
Influence of Fusarium infection (%) on thousand kernel weight (g)
Citation: Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 58, 2; 10.1556/038.2023.00179
In Mv Karéj, growing season did not affect thousand kernel weight [F = 3.743, P = 0.063] (Table 1). Fusarium infection had a moderate negative effect on thousand kernel weight in wheat [R = −0.454], thousand kernel weight decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and thousand kernel weight is y = −0.031x + 44.483. The regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.206, F = 7.264, P =0.012] (Fig. 3, Table 2).
Falling number
In Alföld, growing season did not affect falling number [F = 0.449, P = 0.508] (Table 1). Fusarium infection had no effect on falling number in wheat [R = −0.142]. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and falling number is y = −0.238x + 441.002. The regression is not statistically significant [R2 = 0.020, F = 0.580, P = 0.453] (Fig. 4, Table 2).
Influence of Fusarium infection (%) on falling number (second)
Citation: Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 58, 2; 10.1556/038.2023.00179
In Mv Karéj, growing season significantly affected falling number [F = 16.984, P = 0.000] (Table 1). It was lower in 2021 (364.30 s) compared to 2020 (415.67 s). Fusarium infection had a moderate negative effect on falling number in wheat [R = −0.428], falling number decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and falling number is y = −0.578x + 429.057. The regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.183, F = 6.285, P = 0.018] (Fig. 4, Table 2).
Gluten content
In Alföld, growing season significantly affected gluten content [F = 29.351, P = 0.000] (Table 1). It was lower in 2021 (24.79%) compared to 2020 (30%). Fusarium infection had a strong negative effect on gluten content in wheat [R = −0.716], gluten content decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and gluten content is y = −0.101x + 34.234. The overall regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.512, F = 29.383, P = 0.000] (Fig. 5, Table 2).
Influence of Fusarium infection (%) on gluten content (%)
Citation: Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 58, 2; 10.1556/038.2023.00179
In Mv Karéj, growing season did not affect gluten content [F = 0.557, P = 0.462] (Table 1). Fusarium infection had no effect on gluten content in wheat [R = −0.009] The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and gluten content is y = −0.001x + 28.944. The regression is not statistically significant [R2 = 0.000, F = 0.002, P = 0.962] (Fig. 5, Table 2).
Zeleny sedimentation index
In Alföld, growing season significantly affected Zeleny sedimentation index [F = 52.412, P = 0.000] (Table 1). It was lower in 2021 (38.40 mL) compared to 2020 (53.5 mL). Fusarium infection had a strong negative effect on Zeleny sedimentation index in wheat [R = −0.747], Zeleny sedimentation index decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and Zeleny sedimentation index is y = −0.270x + 64.266. The overall regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.557, F = 35.257, P = 0.000] (Fig. 6, Table 2).
Influence of Fusarium infection (%) on Zeleny sedimentation index (mL)
Citation: Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 58, 2; 10.1556/038.2023.00179
In Mv Karéj, growing season significantly affected Zeleny sedimentation index [F = 17.748, P = 0.000] (Table 1). It was lower in 2021 (49.47 mL) compared to 2020 (60.57 mL). Fusarium infection had a strong negative effect on Zeleny sedimentation index in wheat [R = −0.613], Zeleny sedimentation index decreased when the infection increased. The fitted regression model between Fusarium infection and Zeleny sedimentation index is y = −0.176x + 66.938. The overall regression is statistically significant [R2 = 0.375, F = 16.823, P = 0.000] (Fig. 6, Table 2).
Discussion
This study was conducted to determine the impact of Fusarium infection on wheat quality during the two growing seasons 2020 and 2021. Differences in climatic conditions prevalent in the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons may be the reason for the increased Fusarium infection leading to poor wheat quality. According to El Chami et al. (2022), environmental factors play an important role in the determination of fungal development. Thus, fungal activity and the extent of its colonization are strongly determined by climatic conditions. Our study showed that increased Fusarium infection adversely affected wheat quality. Prange et al. (2005) and Antes et al. (2001) found that severe Fusarium infection had no significant effect on wheat quality parameters. On the contrary, Seitz et al. (1986) and Gärtner et al. (2008) observed in their study that Fusarium infection adversely affected wheat quality parameters.
The results showed that Fusarium infection decreases protein content in Alföld which is observed by Bechtel et al. (1985), Nightingale et al. (1999), Prange et al. (2005) and Gärtner et al. (2008). However, in Mv Karéj Fusarium infection did not have an effect on protein content which is supported by the findings of other studies (Seitz et al., 1986; Dexter et al., 1996; Prange et al., 2005; Wang et al., 2005; Terzi et al., 2007). Other studies found an increase of protein content after severe Fusarium infection (Meyer et al., 1986; Boyacioǧlu and Hettiarachchy, 1995; Pawelzik et al., 1998; Matthäus et al., 2004; Siuda et al., 2010).
The results showed that Fusarium infection decreases gluten contents in Alföld. Dexter et al. (1997) and Gärtner et al. (2008) agrees with the observations of other studies (Meyer et al., 1986; Boyacioǧlu and Hettiarachchy, 1995; Pawelzik et al., 1998) who found a slight decrease in gluten content in wheat kernels after Fusarium infection. However, in Mv Karéj gluten content was not affected by Fusarium infection. Wang et al. (2005) concluded that gluten content in the wheat grain was not affected by Fusarium infection. However, Boyacioğlu and Hettiarachchy (1995) concluded that gluten content in wheat kernels increased following their contamination with Fusarium species.
The results revealed that Fusarium infection decreases falling number in Mv Karéj. Fungal infection of spikes increases degradation of starch due to the presence of enzymes, such as α-amylase, the activity of which is measured using falling number (Wang et al., 2008). After infection with Fusarium a reduction of falling number could, therefore, be expected and has been confirmed (Dexter et al., 1996; Siuda et al., 2010). According to Hareland (2003), Fusarium species secretes enzymes such as α-amylase which degrade starch in wheat kernels, decreases the quality of wheat flour and lowers the values of the falling number. However, in Alföld falling number was not affected by Fusarium infection which was observed by Gärtner et al. (2008), whereby falling number remained unchanged by the infection.
The results revealed that Fusarium infection, in the two wheat varieties used Alföld and Mv Karéj, decreases Zeleny sedimentation index. Papousková et al. (2011) observed that Zeleny sedimentation index showed distinctively decreased values in the infected samples. Fusarium infection leads to the reduction of Zeleny sedimentation index in wheat kernels according to Meyer et al. (1986) and Gärtner et al. (2008). However, it had no effect on Zeleny sedimentation index in the findings of Kreuzberger et al. (2015).
The results indicated that test weight and thousand kernel weight, in the two wheat varieties used Alföld and Mv Karéj, were significantly decreased by Fusarium infection. Wong et al. (1995), McMullen et al. (2012) and Spanic et al. (2017) reported the negative effect that Fusarium infection has on test weight. Dexter et al. (1996), Wang et al. (2005) and Dvojkovic et al. (2007) found that Fusarium infection decreased thousand kernel weight. Fusarium infected kernels are damaged, shriveled, and light weight with low endosperm to bran ratio due to fungal carbohydrate consumption. Results from the mentioned studies indicate that Fusarium infection may reduce and deteriorate the quality of the wheat.
Conclusion
In our study, the effect of Fusarium infection on wheat quality was analysed in two wheat varieties Alföld and Mv Karéj. The effect of Fusarium infection on wheat quality varied between the different wheat varieties as they showed different response patterns against Fusarium head blight. In Mv Karéj, Fusarium infection had a negative effect on test weight, thousand kernel weight, falling number and Zeleny sedimentation index, whereas protein content and gluten content were not affected. In Alföld, Fusarium infection had a negative effect on protein content, test weight, thousand kernel weight, gluten content and Zeleny sedimentation index, whereas falling number was not affected. Although Fusarium infection reduced wheat quality, Mv Karéj showed a stable protein and gluten content whereas Alföld showed a stable falling number. Thus, Mv Karéj is more tolerant to Fusarium infection compared to Alföld.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the supporting Stipendium Hungaricum Program.
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