Location: Plant Science Research
Project Number: 6070-22000-019-030-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 10, 2025
End Date: Sep 9, 2027
Objective:
Powdery mildew is a global problem for wheat producers, and the eastern US experiences chronic wheat powdery mildew epidemics which rob wheat producers of yield and require expensive fungicide applications. The objective of this research is to study wheat powdery mildew populations and identify factors that may reduce the threat posed by the fungal pathogen to commercial wheat varieties. The experiments will involve working with fungal populations to understand when they are able to overcome host resistance genes and identifying the resistance genes that are desirable for germplasm and cultivar development. This knowledge will guide wheat breeders in the deployment of the most effective sources of resistance in the varieties they develop to ensure that the US wheat crop carries effective, durable powdery mildew resistance.
Approach:
Approach #1: Create a population of powdery mildew isolates derived from a broad range of wheat fields, and utilize the PI's collection of single resistance-gene lines to phenotype these isolates in regard to the efficacy of specific host genes against them.
Approach #2: Research the potential for endophytes to enhance wheat resistance to powdery mildew by testing wheat lines with and without endophytes against powdery mildew isolates.