ARS | Publication request: Searching for new sources of FHB resistance in the relatives of wheat

Submitted to: National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 2, 2007
Publication Date: December 2, 2007
Citation: Xu, S.S., Oliver, R.E., Cai, X., Friesen, T.L., Halley, S., Elias, E.M. 2007. Searching for new sources of FHB resistance in the relatives of wheat. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proceedings. pg. 249 Proceedings of 2007 National Fusarium Head Bligh Forum Dec 2-4, 07 Kansas City MO

Technical Abstract: Epidemics of Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused mainly by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, have threatened the production of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum wheat (T. turgidum L., subsp. durum) in North America in recent years. Deployment of FHB-resistant cultivars has been considered the most efficient and cost-effective strategy to combat this disease. However, only limited sources of FHB resistance are currently available, especially in durum, which makes the development of FHB-resistant varieties difficult. In an effort to identify novel sources of FHB resistance, we have screened about 900 accessions of wheat relative species and their derived lines for Type II resistance in greenhouse and in field nurseries (Fargo and Langdon, ND) during the past four years. A number of accessions and derived lines of the relative species have exhibited resistance or moderate resistance to FHB in these screening experiments. Resistant lines include 16 T. carthlicum and 20 T. dicoccum accessions, two synthetic hexaploid wheat lines, one T. timopheevi-derived hexaploid line, one ‘Fukuhokomuji’-Elymus rectisetus disomic addition line, and two ‘Chinese Spring’- Thinopyrum junceum disomic addition lines. These materials likely represent new sources of FHB resistance for durum and bread wheat. The resistant tetraploid wheat accessions are currently utilized for developing durum wheat germplasm resistant to FHB. Introgression of FHB resistance from the derived lines of wild species is currently in progress.