Objective:
Evaluate varieties and advanced breeding lines in regional nurseries to determine FHB reaction and potential in the region; incorporate FHB resistance into the LAES germplasm and develop and release FHB resistant varieties for the Gulf Coast region; and evaluate entries tested in the statewide variety trials for reaction to FHB so that growers have that inforamtion when choosing varieties.

Approach:
The USFHBN regional nursery, entries in the statewide variety trails, and all advanced LSUAC breeding lines will be evaluated in northeast and south central Louisiana under controlled field conditions with corn-based inoculation and timed misting; and in the scab-prone rice region of southwest Louisiana without inoculation. Two replications of 'headrows' in a RCBD will be grown at each location. Appropriate phenotypic data will be collected from these trials and samples will be submitted for toxin analysis. A replicated yield trial and a non-replicated observation yield trial will be conducted at Baton Rouge and Winnsboro for advanced lines derived from FHB-specific crosses. All entries in these trials will also be evaluated in misted, inoculated nurseries at three locations and tested for the presence of major QTL for FHB resistance.