Research Scholar
Jorge Salgado, Department of Entomology
Joseph Kovach, Faculty advisor
Biography
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Jorge David Salgado (born November 23rd 1981, Honduras, Central America) Is a Research Scholar working in the Cereal Pathology lab at the OARDC, Wooster campus. He is a graduate student from The Agricultural Pan-American School also known as Zamorano University located in Honduras. His graduate thesis project titled “In vitro multiplication rate and cost analysis of Rhyncholaelia digbyana, an endangered orchid species in Honduras”, gave him valuable experience working in a laboratory, gaining skills and interest in scientific research as well. As an international scholar he wants to pursue a post-graduate degree in Plant Disease and Epidemiology management and then return to his country to get involved in agricultural development.
About the Research
Fusarium graminearum, causal agent of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), negatively affects grain yield and quality of Wheat. Infected grain accumulates Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by this pathogen. DON accumulation represents a health threat to humans and livestock. The use of varieties with resistance to FHB and DON is a widely recommended management approach for reducing the impact of this disease. However, varieties differ in their resistance, and it is unclear whether resistance to FHB parallels resistance to DON. To evaluate the association among FHB, F. graminearum biomass (genomic DNA) and DON content of grain, as influenced by wheat variety; field experiments were conducted at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, during the 2007 growing season. Two experiments (1 and 2) were established, with three wheat varieties (Cooper-Susceptible, Hopewell-moderate susceptible, and Truman- moderately resistant) planted in a randomized complete block design. Wheat spikes were inoculated with a spore suspension containing an equal proportion ascospores and macroconidia of F. graminearum. The spore suspension (10 x 104 spores/ml) was applied with a backpack sprayer (Solo 425 sprayer) at full flowering (>50% of flowering spikes). For experiment 1, Cooper was inoculated on May 24th, Hopewell on May 26th, and Truman on May 28th. For experiment 2, Cooper was inoculated on May 29th, Hopewell on June 1st, and Truman on June 3rd. Approximately 35 days post inoculation, twenty wheat spikes were tagged and categorized into 11 levels of disease per plot (0 to 10 spikelets diseased).
At maturity, spikes in each category were harvested and a sample of grain from each plot was ground using a grinder machine (Peter Instruments, Falling number AB type 3303). F. graminearum genomic DNA was extracted from each sample and a SYBR green-based real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used to quantify fungal biomass. The presence of DON was quantified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed that DON accumulation increased with increasing FHB disease severity in all three varieties. In the same way, an association was found between fungal biomass and DON content. For Hopewell, a moderately susceptible variety, grain F. graminearum biomass was significantly higher than Cooper (susceptible) and Truman (moderately resistant). No significantly difference in DON content was found among varieties at disease severity levels lower than 5%; however, there was a significant difference in DON and fungal biomass among varieties at disease severity levels higher than 30%. This assay will allow investigators to learn more about the mechanisms involve in resistance to FHB and DON and the relationship among FHB, F. graminearum biomass, and DON accumulation in wheat.