Resistance evaluation of 43 Ethiopian wheat cultivars to crown rot caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is the most devastative disease of wheat, causing substantial yield reductions and lowering grain quality by releasing mycotoxins that affect human and animal health. The utilization of genetically resistant cultivars is the most economic and effective method to tackle the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the resistance of 43 Ethiopian bread wheat cultivars to FCR at seedling and adult plant stages under greenhouse and field conditions. Based on disease index results, 25 cultivars (59.52%) showed resistance or moderate resistance in the 2019 and 2020 seedling stage experiments. In 2020 and 2021 field adult plant resistance evaluations, 71.42% of the cultivars were grouped into susceptible or highly susceptible. Generally, ten cultivars named Alidoro, Dashen, Dodota, Mekelle1, Mekelle2, Meraro, Ogalcho, Pavon-76, Simba, and Tossa showed consistent resistance or moderate resistance to FCR at seedling and adult plant stages tested in the greenhouse and at field conditions. The cultivars that showed consistent resistance or moderate resistance both at the seedling and adult stages can be considered valuable sources for improving FCR disease resistance for future breeding programs.