Assessment of Different Resistance Types of Syrian Durum Wheat Cultivars Towards FHB Agent.

Wheat is one of the most important crops in Syria, for both local consumption and export commodity and can be infected by Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) a world-widespread disease. Fusarium Head Blight reduces yield, grain quality and causes accumulation of deoxynivalenol (DON). The most promising and effective management strategy is to avail cultivars resistant to FHB. Ten Syrian durum wheat cultivars and "Simeto", one of the most susceptible Italian cultivars, were artificially infected, under growth chamber and field conditions. They were inoculated with Syrian and Italian strains of Fusarium culmorum, one of the main agents of FHB, to screen their tolerance toward FHB infection, FHB spread, kernel infection and mycotoxin levels. Jory was the most tolerant cultivar in the growth chamber and field, while Sham 9, was the most susceptible.