Fusarium Head Blight Infection Research Articles

Intra- and inter-species variability of the aggressiveness in four Fusarium head blight species on durum wheat plants detected in an in vitro Petri-dish assay

Aggressiveness assessment of Fusarium head blight (FHB) is crucial for explaining the interaction in FHB–wheat association. Currently, in vitro tools have proved to be very useful in identifying disease responses in wheat to FHB infection. To update our knowledge, intra- and inter-species variability of the aggressiveness was studied in 16 isolates of four FHB species (F. culmorum, F. solani, F. verticillioides and F. equiseti) using an in vitro Petri-dish test. Three aggressiveness criteria, germination rate reduction, standardised area under disease progress curve (AUDPCstandard) and coleoptile length reduction, were evaluated on a durum wheat cultivar showing a moderate level of quantitative resistance. Regarding AUDPCstandard, intra- and inter-species variability was detected. The other two aggressiveness criteria did not distinguish isolates within and among species. The three aggressiveness criteria were not significantly correlated. However, it was not possible to cluster the isolates based on their species origins because of similarity in pathogenic level among the 16 fungal isolates. The results provide evidence that there is a differential interaction between quantitative resistance genes in wheat plants and the 16 tested FHB isolates. The values of AUDPCstandard showed significant correlation with both: disease incidence and disease severity obtained under controlled conditions (r = 0.627** and r = 0.539*, respectively), and disease incidence generated by field conditions (r = 0.525*). AUDPCstandard could be of potential use in evaluating the aggressiveness of FHB in adult wheat plants under controlled and field conditions.

Common resistance to Fusarium head blight in Brazilian wheat cultivars

Mycotoxin levels in Fusarium head blight (FHB) infections can be difficult to quantify. The relationship between mycotoxin and disease is not consistent and it is not clear if wheatpathogen interaction is of significance in regions where more than one Fusarium species with distinct trichothecene production ability co-exists. This study aimed to investigate whether a set of eight Brazilian wheat genotypes, varying in resistance according to classification by the breeder, exhibit a common or differential resistance to Fusarium graminearum (Fgra) (deoxynivalenolproducing) and Fusarium meridionale (nivalenol-producing) (Fmer) using full-spike and central spikelet inoculation (type II resistance). Fgra was generally more aggressive than Fmer based on the percentage of diseased spikes (99 and 84 %, respectively) and number of diseased spikelets (mean 2.8 and 2.0, respectively) below the central spikelet. The genotype-pathogen species interaction was not significant, but there were differences between the genotypes, with BRS 194 and BRS 327 being the least and most resistant, respectively, based on severity ratings. The incidence of Fusarium-damaged kernel (FDK, %) was not affected by species, but two genotypes (BRS Parrudo and BRS 327) showed a lower incidence of FDK. There were substantial variations in the accumulation of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol among the genotypes, reaching maxima of 691.2 µg g−1 and 355.2 µg g−1, respectively, suggesting that Fgra is a more potent producer of trichothecene. Our data confirm prior resistance classifications by the breeders and suggest that the use of a single highly aggressive Fgra isolate may be sufficient for effective screening for FHB resistance. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the accumulation of resistance to trichothecene.

Timing of Fusarium Head Blight Infection in Rice by Heading Stage

Fusarium graminearum causes the devastating plant disease Fusarium head blight and produces mycotoxins on small cultivated grains. To investigate the timeframe of F. graminearum infection during rice cultivation, a spore suspension of F. graminearum was applied to the rice cultivars Dongjin 1 and Nampyeongbyeo before and after the heading stage. The disease incidence rate was the highest (50%) directly after heading, when the greatest number of flowers were present, while only 10% of the rice infected 30 days after heading showed symptoms. To understand the mechanism of infection, an F. graminearum strain expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) was inoculated, and the resulting infections were visually examined. Spores were found in all areas between the glume and inner seed, with the largest amount of GFP detected in the aleurone layer. When the inner part of the rice seed was infected, the pathogen was mainly observed in the embryo. These results suggest that F. graminearum migrates from the anthers to the ovaries and into the seeds during the flowering stage of rice. This study will contribute to uncovering the infection process of this pathogen in rice.

Components of quantitative resistance in barley plants to Fusarium head blight infection determined using three in vitro assays

Components of quantitative resistance in barley plants to Fusarium head blight infection determined using three in vitro assays

Hyperspectral measurements of yellow rust and fusarium head blight in cereal crops: Part 1: Laboratory study

This paper assesses the potential use of a hyperspectral camera for measurement of yellow rust and fusarium head blight in wheat and barley canopy under laboratory conditions. Scanning of crop canopy in trays occurred between anthesis growth stage 60, and hard dough growth stage 87. Visual assessment was made at four levels, namely, at the head, at the flag leaves, at 2nd and 3rd leaves, and at the lower canopy. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) analyses were implemented separately on data captured at four growing stages to establish separate calibration models to predict the percentage coverage of yellow rust and fusarium head blight infection. Results showed that the standard deviation between 500 and 650 nm and the squared difference between 650 and 700 nm wavelengths were found to be significantly different between healthy and infected canopy particularly for yellow rust in both crops, whereas the effect of water-stress was generally found to be unimportant. The PLSR yellow rust models were of good prediction capability for 6 out of 8 growing stages, a very good prediction at early milk stage in wheat and a moderate prediction at the late milk development stage in barley. For fusarium, predictions were very good for seven growing stages and of good performance for anthesis growing stage in wheat, with best performing for the milk development stages. However, the root mean square error of predictions for yellow rust were almost half of those for fusarium, suggesting higher prediction accuracies for yellow rust measurement under laboratory conditions.

Integrated control of fusarium head blight and deoxynivalenol mycotoxin in wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease that affects wheat, is caused by a complex of Fusarium species. The overall impact of Fusarium spp. in wheat production arises through the combination of FHB and mycotoxin infection of the grain harvested from infected wheat spikes. Spike infection occurs during opening of flowers and is favoured by high humidity or wet weather accompanied with warm temperatures. Available possibilities for controlling FHB include the use of cultural practices, fungicides and biological approaches. Three cultural practices are expected to be of prime importance in controlling FHB and the production of mycotoxins: soil preparation method (deep tillage), the choice of the preceding crop in the rotation and the selection of appropriate cultivar.

Reduction of deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination by improved fungicide use in wheat. Part 3. Reduction of Fusarium head blight and influence on quality traits in cultivars with different resistance levels

Earlier published papers analyzed different quality traits indicating only slight changes in quality following Fusarium head blight (FHB) infection and no strong improvement after fungicide application. Therefore, a selection of quality traits were chosen to gain reliable information on these two factors. Three cultivars were tested for three years (2010–2012) with eight fungicides under natural inoculation by maize residue. Quality traits from Zeleny to extensograph parameters were measured from the grain samples. During the 2010 epidemic year extensograph parameters reacted most sensitively to FHB infection, but fungicides only partially restored the damage. The differences between fungicides were also highly significant. Other traits such as grain hardness, 1000 kernel weight, wet gluten and Zeleny value seldom gave significant differences among the treatments. In non-epidemic years the quality traits were also influenced by fungicides, but the variation was much lower, and the treatments caused both significant positive and negative quality changes. The best improvement was found following application of prothioconazole and tebuconazole active molecules to the crop. Improvement of wheat quality was dependent on resistance level and the antifusarium activity of the fungicides. The most informative traits to detect quality losses or measure the improvements were the rheological traits such as the extensograph parameters (e.g.135 min Energy) and farinograph dough stability.

Factors of wheat grain resistance to Fusarium head blight

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum , is an important wheat disease that affects grain yield and conformation, and contaminates grains with mycotoxins, including the trichothecene deoxynivalenol (DON). The impacts of Fusarium infections on grain filling, grain deformation and rheological properties were assessed under different environmental conditions. Genotypes with elevated grain anthocyanin content were used. Resistance of seven wheat varieties and breeding lines was assessed with artificial infections in the field. Grains from infected and control plots were assessed for proportion of Fusarium damaged kernels, grain filling (thousand kernel weight) and DON accumulation. Biochemical and rheological properties of harvested grain were also assessed. Grain resistance to Fusarium has several components, including resistance against DON accumulation, deformation and stability of grain filling. These mechanisms are interdependent but act independently. Resistance against DON contamination was highly influenced by environmental conditions, but environment had little effect on the other resistance components. Anthocyanins and protein concentrations were unchanged in infected grains, suggesting that FHB does not affect grain biosynthesis processes but impacts the transport of assimilates caused by changes in grain composition. We suggest that this is the reason for the alterations of rheological properties. The greater the grain resistance, the less was the impact on dough properties. This study suggests that the resilience of rheological properties under FHB infection pressure is an additional component of grain resistance to the disease.

Dwarfing Genes Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b Are Associated with Both Type I FHB Susceptibility and Low Anther Extrusion in Two Bread Wheat Populations

It has been well documented that dwarfing genes Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b are associated with Type I susceptibility to Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat; but the underlying mechanism has not been well delineated. Anther extrusion (AE) has also been related to Type I resistance for initial FHB infection, where high AE renders FHB resistance. In this study, two doubled haploid populations were used to investigate the impact of the two dwarfing genes on FHB resistance and AE, and to elucidate the role of AE in Rht-mediated FHB susceptibility. Both populations were derived by crossing the FHB susceptible cultivar ‘Ocoroni F86’ (Rht-B1a/Rht-D1b) with an FHB resistant variety (Rht-B1b/Rht-D1a), which was ‘TRAP#1/BOW//Taigu derivative’ in one population (the TO population) and ‘Ivan/Soru#2’ in the other (the IO population). Field experiments were carried out from 2010 to 2012 in El Batán, Mexico, where spray inoculation was adopted and FHB index, plant height (PH), and AE were evaluated, with the latter two traits showing always significantly negative correlations with FHB severity. The populations were genotyped with the DArTseq GBS platform, the two dwarfing genes and a few SSRs for QTL analysis, and the results indicated that Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b collectively accounted for 0–41% of FHB susceptibility and 13–23% of reduced AE. It was also observed that three out of the four AE QTL in the TO population and four out of the five AE QTL in the IO population were associated with FHB resistance. Collectively, our results demonstrated the effects of Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b on Type I FHB susceptibility and reducing AE, and proposed that their impacts on Type I FHB susceptibility may partly be explained by their effects on reducing AE. The implication of the relationship between the two dwarfing genes and AE for hybrid wheat breeding was also discussed.

Thymol-based submicron emulsions exhibit antifungal activity against Fusarium graminearum and inhibit Fusarium head blight in wheat

Fusarium graminearum is a very destructive fungal pathogen that leads to Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat, a disease which costs growers millions of dollars annually both in crop losses and in remediation efforts. Current countermeasures include the deployment of wheat varieties with some resistance to FHB in conjunction with timed fungicide treatments. In this article, we introduce a fungicide based on thymol, a naturally occurring plant phenolic derived from essential oils. To overcome the hydrophobicity of thymol, the thymol active was incorporated into a low-surfactant submicron emulsion with and without a carrier oil. The minimum fungicidal concentration of F.graminearum was found to be both 0·02% for thymol emulsions with and without an oil component. Time-to-kill experiments showed that thymol emulsions were able to inactivate F.graminearum in as little as 10s at concentrations above 0·06%. Spraying the thymol emulsions (~0·1% range) on the wheat variety Bobwhite demonstrated significant reductions in FHB infection rate (number of infected spikelets). However, with 0·5% thymol, the wheat heads exhibited premature senescence. Transmission and scanning electron micrographs suggest that the mechanism of antifungal action is membrane mediated, as conidia exposed to thymol showed complete organelle disorganization and evidence of lipid emulsification. The collective experimental data suggest that thymol emulsions may be an effective naturally derived alternative to the current thymol treatments, and chemical fungicides in ameliorating FHB. This is the first thymol-derived nanoemulsion particles resuspended into water and not DMSO, exhibiting the same antibacterial/antifungal activity as previously described thymol and thyme oil treatments. This drastically reduces the environmental footprint thymol will leave if utilized as a fungicide treatment on field crops.

Comparative Analysis of Deoxynivalenol Biosynthesis Related Gene Expression among Different Chemotypes of Fusarium graminearum in Spring Wheat.

Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) act as virulence factors and are essential for symptom development after initial infection in wheat. To date, 16 genes have been identified in the DON biosynthesis pathway. However, a comparative gene expression analysis in different chemotypes of Fusarium graminearum in response to Fusarium head blight infection remains to be explored. Therefore, in this study, nine genes that involved in trichothecene biosynthesis were analyzed among 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) and nivalenol producing F. graminearum strains in a time course study. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed that the expression of all examined TRI gene transcripts initiated at 2 days post-inoculation (dpi), peaked at three to four dpi and gradually decreased at seven dpi. The early induction of TRI genes indicates that presence of high levels of TRI gene transcripts at early stages is important to initiate the biosynthetic pathway of DON and NIV. Comparison of gene expression among the three chemotypes showed that relative expression of TRI genes was higher in 3-ADON producing strains compared with 15-ADON and NIV strains. Comparatively higher levels of gene expression may contribute to the higher levels of DON produced by 3-ADON strains in infected grains.

Cell Wall Biomolecular Composition Plays a Potential Role in the Host Type II Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious disease of wheat worldwide. Cultivar resistance to FHB depends on biochemical factors that confine the pathogen spread in spikes. Breeding for cultivar resistance is considered the most practical way to manage this disease. In this study, different spectroscopy and microscopy techniques were applied to discriminate resistance in wheat genotypes against FHB. Synchrotron-based spectroscopy and imaging techniques, including focal plane array infrared and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy were used to understand changes in biochemical and nutrients in rachis following FHB infection. Sumai3 and Muchmore were used to represent resistant and susceptible cultivars to FHB, respectively, in this study. The histological comparison of rachis showed substantial differences in the cell wall thickness between the cultivars after infection. Synchrotron-based infrared imaging emphasized substantial difference in biochemical composition of rachis samples between the two cultivars prior to visible symptoms; in the resistant Sumai3, infrared bands representing lignin and hemicellulose were stronger and more persistent compared to the susceptible cultivar. These bands may be the candidates of biochemical markers for FHB resistance. Focal plane array infrared imaging (FPA) spectra from the rachis epidermis and vascular bundles revealed a new band (1710 cm−1) related to the oxidative stress on the susceptible cultivar only. XRF spectroscopy data revealed differences in nutrients composition between cultivars, and between controls and inoculated samples, with substantial increases observed for Ca, K, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Si in the resistant cultivar. These nutrients are related to cell wall stability, metabolic process, and plant defense mechanisms such as lignification pathway and callose deposition. The combination of cell wall composition and lignification plays a role in the mechanism of type II host resistance to FHB. Biochemical profiling using the synchrotron-based spectroscopy holds potential for screening wheat genotypes for FHB resistance.

Exogenous Abscisic Acid and Gibberellic Acid Elicit Opposing Effects on Fusarium graminearum Infection in Wheat.

Although the roles of salicylate (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) have been well-characterized in Fusarium head blight (FHB)-infected cereals, the roles of other phytohormones remain more ambiguous. Here, the association between an array of phytohormones and FHB pathogenesis in wheat is investigated. Comprehensive profiling of endogenous hormones demonstrated altered cytokinin, gibberellic acid (GA), and JA metabolism in a FHB-resistant cultivar, whereas challenge by Fusarium graminearum increased abscisic acid (ABA), JA, and SA in both FHB-susceptible and -resistant cultivars. Subsequent investigation of ABA or GA coapplication with fungal challenge increased and decreased FHB spread, respectively. These phytohormones-induced effects may be attributed to alteration of the F. graminearum transcriptome because ABA promoted expression of early-infection genes, including hydrolases and cytoskeletal reorganization genes, while GA suppressed nitrogen metabolic gene expression. Neither ABA nor GA elicited significant effects on F. graminearum fungal growth or sporulation in axenic conditions, nor do these phytohormones affect trichothecene gene expression, deoxynivalenol mycotoxin accumulation, or SA/JA biosynthesis in F. graminearum-challenged wheat spikes. Finally, the combined application of GA and paclobutrazol, a Fusarium fungicide, provided additive effects on reducing FHB severity, highlighting the potential for combining fungicidal agents with select phytohormone-related treatments for management of FHB infection in wheat.

Metabolic Biomarker Panels of Response to Fusarium Head Blight Infection in Different Wheat Varieties.

Metabolic changes in spikelets of wheat varieties FL62R1, Stettler, Muchmore and Sumai3 following Fusarium graminearum infection were explored using NMR analysis. Extensive 1D and 2D 1H NMR measurements provided information for detailed metabolite assignment and quantification leading to possible metabolic markers discriminating resistance level in wheat subtypes. In addition, metabolic changes that are observed in all studied varieties as well as wheat variety specific changes have been determined and discussed. A new method for metabolite quantification from NMR data that automatically aligns spectra of standards and samples prior to quantification using multivariate linear regression optimization of spectra of assigned metabolites to samples’ 1D spectra is described and utilized. Fusarium infection-induced metabolic changes in different wheat varieties are discussed in the context of metabolic network and resistance.

Crop biomass and humidity related factors reflect the spatial distribution of phytopathogenic Fusarium fungi and their mycotoxins in heterogeneous fields and landscapes

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a global problem in small-grains agriculture that results in yield losses and, more seriously, produces harmful toxins that enter the food chain. This study builds on previous research identifying within-field humidity as an important factor in infection processes by Fusarium species and its mycotoxin production. Environmental variables describing topographic control of humidity (TWI), soil texture and related moisture by electrical conductivity (ECa), and canopy humidity by density (NDVI) were explored in their relationship to the fungal infection rates, the abundance of trichothecene-producing Fusarium spp. as determined by TRI 6 gene copies and mycotoxin accumulation. Field studies were performed at four field sites in northeastern Germany in 2009 and 2011. In the wet year 2011, a high Fusarium infection rate resulted in a high abundance of trichothecene-producing fungi as well as high concentrations of mycotoxins. Simultaneously, Fusarium spp. inhibited the development of other filamentous fungi. Overall, a very heterogeneous distribution of pathogen infections and mycotoxin concentrations were displayed in each field in each landscape. The NDVI serves as an important predictor of the occurrence of phytopathogenic Fusarium fungi and their mycotoxins in a field and landscape scale. In addition, the ECa reflects the distribution of the most frequently occurring mycotoxin deoxynivalenol within the fields and landscapes. In all cases, TWI was not found to be a significant variable in the models. All in all, the results extend our knowledge about suitable indicators of FHB infection and mycotoxin production within the field.

The fungal community changes over time in developing wheat heads

Under normal conditions, wheat is colonized by a multitude of fungi that can have beneficial or adverse effects on plant growth and yield. To study the effect of spraying wheat heads with fungicides on the fungal community from emergence to harvest we applied an amplicon sequencing approach on single wheat heads. The climatic data showed that the spring of 2014 was very dry and without precipitation in the two weeks around flowering. An initial quantitative PCR showed that the total amount of fungal DNA increased during the entire period, without significant difference between sprayed and control wheat heads. Amplicon sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region showed that operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified as Sporobolomyces roseus dominated in the first weeks, whereas Alternaria infectoria OTUs dominated in the last weeks before harvest. The only observed significant difference was that the control wheat heads contained more of the powdery mildew causing Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici OTUs compared with the sprayed wheat heads. The dry conditions around flowering most likely also had an effect on Fusarium head blight infection as Fusarium OTUs were only sporadically encountered.Analyses of secondary metabolites produced by Fusarium and Alternaria in the wheat heads confirmed the observations from the amplicon sequencing. Enniatin B was the most frequent contaminant present in four sprayed (49–538ng/g) and three control (56–355ng/g) wheat heads. The A. infectoria secondary metabolites infectopyrone and 4Z-infectopyrone were however consistently observed in all samples collected the last five weeks before harvest.

Effective marker alleles associated with type 2 resistance to Fusarium head blight infection in fields.

Molecular markers associated with known quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for type 2 resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) in bi-parental mapping population usually have more than two alleles in breeding populations. Therefore, understanding the association of each allele with FHB response is particularly important to marker-assisted enhancement of FHB resistance. In this paper, we evaluated FHB severities of 192 wheat accessions including landraces and commercial varieties in three field growing seasons, and genotyped this panel with 364 genome-wide informative molecular markers. Among them, 11 markers showed reproducible marker-trait association (p < 0.05) in at least two experiments using a mixed model. More than two alleles were identified per significant marker locus. These alleles were classified into favorable, unfavorable and neutral alleles according to the normalized genotypic values. The distributions of effective alleles at these loci in each wheat accession were characterized. Mean FHB severities increased with decreased number of favorable alleles at the reproducible loci. Chinese wheat landraces and Japanese accessions have more favorable alleles at the majority of the reproducible marker loci. FHB resistance levels of varieties can be greatly improved by introduction of these favorable alleles and removal of unfavorable alleles simultaneously at these QTL-linked marker loci.

Identification of putative phosphoproteins in wheat spikes induced by Fusarium graminearum

Main conclusionPhosphorylation and dephosphorylation events were initiated in wheat scab resistance. The putative FHB-responsive phosphoproteins are mainly involved in three functional groups and contain at least one tyrosine, serine, or threonine phosphorylation site.Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a severe disease in wheat. Protein phosphorylation plays an important role in plant–pathogen interactions, however, a global analysis of protein phosphorylation in response to FHB infection remains to be explored. To study the effect of FHB on the phosphorylation state of wheat proteins, proteins extracted from spikes of a resistant wheat cultivar after 6 h of inoculation with F. graminearum or sterile H2O were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and then the immunodetection of putative phosphoproteins was conducted by Western blotting using specific anti-phosphotyrosine antibody, anti-phosphothreonine antibody and anti-phosphoserine antibody. A total of 35 phosphorylated signals was detected and protein identities of 28 spots were determined. Functional categorization showed that the putative FHB-responsive phosphoproteins were mainly involved in defense/stress response, signal transduction, and metabolism. The phosphorylation status of proteins associated with signaling pathways mediated by salicylic acid, calcium ions, small GTPase, as well as with detoxification, reactive oxygen species scavenging, antimicrobial compound synthesis, and cell wall fortification was regulated in wheat spikes in response to F. graminearum infection. The present study reveals dynamics of wheat phosphoproteome in response to F. graminearum infection and suggests an important role of protein Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphorylation in fundamental mechanisms of wheat scab resistance.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00425-015-2441-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Impact of Fusarium spp. infection of bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) on composition and quality of flour in association with EU maximum level for deoxynivalenol

Contamination of grain with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) is the major threat after Fusarium head blight (FHB) infection of wheat, however technological quality can also be impaired. The European Union has established maximum levels (ML) of DON for wheat grain and foodstuffs. The composition (starch, gluten proteins) and quality (protein content, sedimentation value, wet gluten, water absorption, mixing properties of dough, baking volume) of 72 flour Type 550 samples from two years either fulfilling or exceeding ML of 0.75 mg kg-1 were investigated. DO content of flours ranged widely from below limit of quantification to 11.84 mg kg-1. Aside from a slight loss of loaf shape in flours highly exceeding ML, no negative effect on composition and quality of flour was observed in flours exceeding ML compared to those fulfilling ML. A significant decrease in total glutenin and LMW-GS content did not correlate with any quality trait. Hence, if flours fulfill ML for DON, reduced technological quality due to FHB is not significant.

Prediction of hybrid performance for Fusarium head blight resistance in triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack)

Like other small grain cereals, triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) is also affected by Fusarium head blight (FHB) which is a serious plant disease leading to yield losses and to a contamination of feed and food by harmful mycotoxins. Use of resistant varieties is the most effective way to manage FHB infections. More recently, commercial hybrid breeding in autogamous cereals has received increased interest. Therefore, we built a bridge between hybrid and resistance breeding and conducted a multi-environmental field trial using deliberate inoculation with Fusarium culmorum to: (i) evaluate different hybrid prediction approaches based on phenotypic and/or genomic data; (ii) compare the effect of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) inducing cytoplasm and normal (N) cytoplasm on FHB resistance. We evaluated 226 single cross hybrids, their paternal and maternal lines in both CMS- and N-cytoplasm. Our analysis revealed a large genetic variation for FHB resistance. Single cross hybrids tended to be more resistant than their parental lines. We observed a close association between N-lines and CMS-lines for FHB resistance. We found a predominance of σGCA2 over σSCA2 for FHB resistance. Correlation between the sum of general combining ability (GCA) effects and hybrid performance was high for FHB resistance. Mid-parent performance served as a moderate indicator for FHB resistance of single crosses. Best linear unbiased prediction of hybrid performance based on relatedness between tested and untested genotypes estimated by marker data showed great potential for hybrid prediction when no reliable per se information or GCA estimates are available.