Fusarium Head Blight Infection Induced Responses of Six Winter Wheat Varieties in Ascorbate–Glutathione Pathway, Photosynthetic Efficiency and Stress Hormones

Šunić, Katarina; Brkljačić, Lidija; Vuković, Rosemary; Katanić, Zorana; Salopek-Sondi, Branka; Španić, Valentina (2023) Fusarium Head Blight Infection Induced Responses of Six Winter Wheat Varieties in Ascorbate–Glutathione Pathway, Photosynthetic Efficiency and Stress Hormones. Plants, 12 (21). ISSN 2223-7747

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Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most studied fungal diseases of wheat, causing massive grain yield and quality losses. This study aimed to extend previous studies on the physiological and biochemical responses of winter wheat to FHB stress in a controlled environment by focusing on the ascorbate-glutathione pathway (AsA-GSH), photosynthetic efficiency, and stress hormone levels, thus providing insight into the possible interactions of different defense mechanisms during infection. The activity of AsA-GSH metabolism was increased in FHB resistant varieties, maintaining the redox state of spikes, and consequently preserving functional photosystem II. Furthermore, carotenoids (Car) were shown to be the major pigments in the photosystem assembly, as they decreased in FHB-stressed spikes of resistant and moderately resistant varieties, compared to controls. Car are also the substrate for the synthesis of abscisic acid (ABA), which acts as a fungal effector and its elevated content leads to increased FHB susceptibility in inoculated spikes. The results of this study contributed to the knowledge of FHB resistance mechanisms and can be used to improve the breeding of FHB resistant varieties, which is considered to be the most effective control measure.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	FHB; abscisic acid; salicylic acid; AsA-GSH cycle; photosynthetic efficiency; wheat
Subjects:	BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCES
Divisions:	Division of Molecular Biology Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Odgovor ozime pšenice na biotičke i abiotičke stresove izazvane klimatskim promjenama- Rosemary Vuković; Branka Salopek-Sondi; Valentina Španić; Jurislav Babić KK.01.1.1.04.0067 EK
Depositing User:	Ivana Vuglec
Date Deposited:	01 Apr 2026 14:02
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/11560
DOI:	10.3390/plants12213720

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