Project Number: 1920-22000-041-02
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jan 01, 2009
End Date: Dec 31, 2012

Objective:
The objectives of the project are: 1) test U.S. wheat cultivars for resistance to the wheat blast pathogen, Magnaporthe grisea; 2) characterize wheat blast resistance; and 3) develop tools for the rapid detection of M. grisea. This project will enhance research in Project 1920-220000-035-00D, under Sub-objectives 1.A “ Develop accurate and rapid means for identification and detection”, 2.B “Elucidate the range of potential hosts for foreign plant pathogens”, 2.C “Evaluate environmental parameters on the initiation, establishment and progression of disease”, and 3” Screen germplasm for resistant sources to emerging and foreign fungal plant pathogens”.

Approach:
A nursery of U.S. commercial wheat cultivars will be established at the Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit. Plants in the vegetative stage will be inoculated with conidia of M. grisea and subsequent disease assessed 7 days after inoculation. A disease rating scale has already been established. Each cultivar will be tested with a minimum of 5 geographically distinct isolates of M. grisea from Mato Grosso do Sul and Parana, Brazil, where the disease is a major problem. These trials will be repeated three times. Cultivars identified as resistant will be field tested in Brazil through a cooperator in Brazil.