In vitro selection for resistance to head blight (Fusarium spp.) via somaclonal variation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In this study it has been investigated to identify of F.graminiarum and F.culmorum based onmycological and molecular analysis in Cukurova region and selection of resistance to wheat headblight used embriogenic calli of three genotypes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Adana 99, Seri 82and Genç 99.Wheat head blight caused F.graminearum and F.culmorum were identified on wheat fieldsand F.graminearum was the most widely distributed species in Cukurova region.Immature and mature embrio and immature seeds of wheat varieties used in vitro selectionwere cultured on MS medium containing 2,4-D to initiate embriogenic calli The frequency of callusinduction was 45-92% from immature embrio, 0-21% from immature seeds, and 57-70% from matureembrio. The wheat varieties calli were cultured on modified MS medium containing differentconcentration of Fusarium culture filtrate and fusaric acid for 4 weeks and the best selective effect wasobtained at concentration of 30% culture filtrate and 0,30 mM fusaric acidDeveloped calli which were cultured on MS medium containing 30% culture filtrate and 0,30mM fusaric acid for 4 months were regenerated plants but did not produce seeds.Genetic variation of plants regenerated from surviving calli in spite of culture filtrate andfusaric acid was investigated using RAPD-PCR (6 primers) analysis. 3 of the 6 primers resulted withamplification product but none of them were polymorphic. Genetic distances of F.graminearum andF.culmorum isolates were determined by RAPD-PCR (10 primers). One primer (OPU-17) withF.culmorum, two primers (OPU-19 and OPU-17) with F.graminearum did not react. Amplificationproducts have given 27 polymorphic bands for F.culmorum and 9 bands for F.graminearum.Key words: Wheat head blight, Fusarium spp, In vitro selection, culture filtrate, fusaric acid, RAPD-PCR