Location: Crop Production and Protection
Project Number: 0500-00053-005-224-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: May 1, 2026
End Date: Apr 30, 2030
Objective:
This project aims to improve Fusarium head blight resistance in Montana-adapted winter wheat by increasing FHB-resistant alleles, integrating major and native resistance genes, and screening breeding lines through early-generation field nurseries and controlled greenhouse assays to identify Type I and Type II resistance and advance superior, low-DON genotypes for growers.
Approach:
This project combines breeding, field, and greenhouse screening to improve Fusarium head blight resistance in Montana winter wheat. Resistant donor lines with Fhb1, Fhb5A, Fhb7, and native loci are crossed with elite germplasm and selected using markers, mist-irrigated field nurseries, and greenhouse assays for Type I and Type II resistance.