Location: Crop Production and Protection
Project Number: 0500-00053-005-237-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: May 1, 2026
End Date: Apr 30, 2030
Objective:
Identify plant carboxylesterases that convert 3-ADON to DON and determine their role as susceptibility factors in Fusarium head blight. Define key enzymes and evaluate their potential as targets to reduce mycotoxin accumulation and disease severity in wheat.
Approach:
Integrate biochemical assays, structural analysis, and comparative genomics to identify and characterize CXE enzymes in Arabidopsis and wheat. Prioritize candidates using functional and structural criteria, and validate selected wheat homologs through targeted gene editing and disease assays.