Effect of Fusarium culmorum infection on selected physiological and biochemical parameters of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) DH lines

The objective of this study was to facilitate the resistance of barley to Fusarium culmorum according to direct (disease rating (DR), fresh weight) and indirect (physiological and biochemical) parameters. Significant correlations were detected between most measured parameters. Hulled lines revealed less root susceptibility to infection of F. culmorum expressed in DR and fresh weight. Infection in roots significantly increased phenolics content, especially in most hull-less genotypes, but decreased soluble sugars, pigment content and overall performance index of the PSII photosystem. Significant correlations suggest the possibility of applying the measured indirect parameters in selection of barley DH lines resistant to F. culmorum infection.