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Virulence variability of Ethiopian Zymoseptoria tritici isolates and efficacy of wheat genotypes and Stb resistance genes against the isolates

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Abstract

Septoria tritici blotch caused by the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici is a serious threat to wheat production worldwide. Knowledge of physiologic specialization of the pathogen and identification of potential source of resistance are prerequisite for designing durable management strategies. The present study was targeted to determine the virulence pattern of eight bread wheat derived Ethiopian Z. tritici isolates, and efficacy of known Stb resistance genes and wheat genotypes against the isolates. Disease severity analysis confirmed the presence of specific interaction in the pathogen. Pathogenecity assay identified 60 isolate-specific resistances among all (n = 360) interactions. Of 45 wheat genotypes, 40% showed no isolate-specific resistance responses and were susceptible to all isolates. Tested Z. tritici isolates showed significantly different virulence patterns with virulence on 71% to 93% wheat genotypes. Isolate I1 was found to be the most virulent (on 93% of the tested genotypes), and hence, useful for germplasm screening. Among tested known Stb genes, Stb13/Stb14 in Salamouni did not confer resistance to any of the isolates, while Stb16 in KM7 conferred broad spectrum resistance to 75% of them, and thus, promising source of resistance to STB in Ethiopia. Among tested 20 commercial cultivars, 45% did not confer resistance to all the isolates. Three genotypes (MURGA, Km7 and the cultivar Hidase) conferred the greatest level of resistance to the tested Ethiopian Zymoseptoria tritici isolates. The information is very useful for wheat breeders and the wheat farming community in making informed decisions to manage STB disease in Ethiopia.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CIMMYT:

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

DS:

Disease severity

FYM:

Farm yard manure

HARC:

Holeta Agricultural Research Center

LMM:

Linear mixed model

LSD:

Least significant differences

NLA:

Necrosis leaf area

PC:

Pychnidia coverage

PDA:

Potato dextrose agar

SE :

Standard error

SR:

Septoria resistance

STB:

Septoria tritici blotch

Stb genes :

Septoria resistant genes

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Acknowledgments

This work is part of the first author’s PhD thesis. The authors would like to thank the Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University for material and technical supports for this research. We are also very grateful to the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for funding the research, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the wheat breeding program of Holeta Agricultural Research Center, for providing the study wheat genotypes, and the National Agricultural Biotechnology laboratory centre for providing laboratory space and greenhouse facilities to conduct this research.

Funding

The work was supported by Ministry of Innovation and Technology of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Tilahun Mekonnen, Teklehaimanot Haileselassie & Kassahun Tesfaye

  2. Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute, Affiliated with Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Kassahun Tesfaye

  3. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT )– Ethiopia regional office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Bekele G. Abayo

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  1. Tilahun Mekonnen
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  2. Teklehaimanot Haileselassie
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  3. Bekele G. Abayo
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  4. Kassahun Tesfaye
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Sample collection, data collection and analysis were performed by Tilahun Mekonnen. All co-authors actively involved in interpreting the data, drafting and revising the previous version of the manuscript, and finally approving the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Tilahun Mekonnen.

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Mekonnen, T., Haileselassie, T., Abayo, B.G. et al. Virulence variability of Ethiopian Zymoseptoria tritici isolates and efficacy of wheat genotypes and Stb resistance genes against the isolates. Eur J Plant Pathol 158, 895–910 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-020-02125-3

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