Effect of growth stage on host sensitivity to helminthosporol toxin and susceptibility to Cochliobolus sativus causing spot blotch on wheat

Five wheat genotypes with differing field resistance to Cochliobolus sativus were tested in greenhouse conditions for their reaction to 1.0 mM helminthosporol (HL) toxin and for their resistance to the pathogen at the 4-leaf seedling, booting, anthesis completed and late milk grain stages. HL caused distinctly necrotic and chlorotic lesions only on the adult plants of highly susceptible genotypes Ciano T-79 and Sonalika. The level of toxin sensitivity and disease severity increased with adult plant growth stage, suggesting that susceptibility is related to plant physiology. However, genotype BL 1473 was found to be susceptible to the fungus but insensitive to the toxin, indicating the limitations of using the toxin as a screening tool for resistance. The results confirm earlier studies which showed a lack of correlation between resistance at the seedling stage and field observations. This underlines the importance of field screening for improving resistance to spot blotch in wheat.