Reaction of wheat germplasm to Karnal bunt artificial inoculation in the field during the 2017-2018 crop season

Fifteen advanced bread wheat lines (ABWL) candidates for release and commercial cultivars Borlaug 100 F2014, CIANO M2018, RSM Norman F2008, Onavas F2009, and Roelfs F2007; thirty two advanced durum wheat lines (ADWL) candidates for release and commercial cultivars Baroyeca Oro C2013, CIRNO C2008, and Quetchehueca Oro C2013; and fifty two elite advanced bread wheat lines (EABWL) were evaluated for their reaction to Tilletia indica, artificially inoculated in the field during the crop season 2017-2018, at the Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station in Sonora, Mexico. Sowing dates were November 14 and 24, 2017, and December 1 as a third date for the EABWL. Inoculations were performed by injection during the boot stage. The percentage of infection was determined by counting healthy and infected grains. The range of infection of the ABWL and commercial cultivars in the first date was 1.0-53.6 % with a mean of 24.4 %, and 0-65.3 % with a mean of 33.6 % in the second date. The range of infection of the ADWL and commercial cultivars in the first date was 0-22.9 % with a mean of 2.3 %, while 0-21.9 % with a mean of 5.7 % in the second date. The range of infection of the EABWL in the first date was 0.37-42.6 % with a mean of 9.9 %, 0-39.0 % with a mean of 10.3 % in the second date, and 0.31-47.7 % with a mean of 13.3 % in the third date; 10 lines of this group showed an average lower than 5 % infection.