ARS | Publication request: TRANSGENIC APPROACHES TO COMBAT FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT IN WHEAT AND BARLEY.

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 28, 2000
Publication Date: May 1, 2001
Citation: Dahleen, L.S., Okubara, P.A., Blechl, A.E. 2001. Transgenic approaches to combat fusarium head blight in wheat and barley. Crop Science 40:628-637.

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium head blight (FHB) and grain contamination with deoxynivalenol (DON) have caused devastating losses to wheat, durum and barley growers across the U.S.A. since the early 1990s. The search through barley, wheat, and related germplasm has identified only partial resistance under the control of many genes with small effects, which makes breeding resistant cultivars difficult. Using transformation techniques to insert individual antifungal and antitoxin genes has the potential to help develop resistant wheat and barley cultivars. This paper briefly reviews the status of wheat and barley transformation methods and some of the challenges faced in successful transformation of these cereal crops. Ongoing research to identify candidate antifungal genes, and promoters to control the timing and location of gene expression is described. As more antifungal genes are inserted into wheat and barley, field and greenhouse evaluation will show whether transgenes achieve their potential in the fight against FHB.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB) and contamination with deoxynivalenol (DON) have caused devastating losses to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), durum (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum Desf.Husr..) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) growers across the U.S.A. since the early 1990s. The search through barley, wheat, and related germplasm has identified only partial resistance under multigenic control, which makes breeding resistant cultivars a challenge. The insertion of individual antifungal and antitoxin genes via genetic transformation has the potential to aid in development of resistant wheat and barley cultivars. This paper briefly reviews the status of wheat and barley transformation methods and some of the challenges faced in successful transformation of these cereal crops. Ongoing research to identify candidate antifungal genes and promoters to control gene expression is described. As more antifungal genes are inserted into wheat and barley, field and greenhouse evaluation will show whether transgenes achieve their potential in the fight against FHB.