The combined effect of plant stature and maturity on the response of wheat and triticale accessions to Septoria tritici

Summary The relationships between percent pycnidia coverage on the four uppermost leaves (PCD), plant height (PHT) and days to heading (HED) were evaluated for 21,000 wheat and triticale accessions tested in artificially inoculated (with fixed combination of S. tritici isolates) field nurseries over 8 trial years. A general Linear Model procedure (GLM) estimated Septoria severity using two correlative models: model 133-1 Year and model II–PCD=b₁PHT+b₂HED+C. The regression coefficients for PHT and HED in the two models were –0.54 and –0.40, respectively, with a R²=0.80^** and R²=0.29^** for model I and model II, respectively. The predicted cultivar best fitted to the model would be characterized as a semidwarf (PHT=115 cm) with an early-moderate maturity (HED=95 days to heading). The estimated mean percent pycnidial coverage for the two models over the 8 trial years was 40.8%. The performance of a group of 38 cultivars replicated yearly during the 8 trial years was assessed relative to model I. The deviation of each cultivar from the model was calculated using two functions: a) Sum Relative Serial Deviation (SRSD) and b) Total Relative deviation (TRD), in addition to Standard errors (SE). The proposed analytical protocol enabled identification of cultivars which expressed consistent yearly deviation (from the model) in host response combined with low-moderate mean pycnidial coverage (±30%). Such cultivars may possess a more stable type of genetic protection against the adverse effects of septoria tritici blotch.