Research Project: Integrated and Biological Strategies to Reduce Fusarium Head Blight and DON in Wheat

Location: Crop Production and Protection

Project Number: 0500-00053-005-223-G
Project Type: Grant

Start Date: May 1, 2026
End Date: Apr 30, 2030

Objective:
Objective 1: Validate integrated management methods for Fusarium Head Blight control. We will test management methods under high disease pressure and evaluate the levels of disease and yield. Objective 2: Develop a microbiome-based suppression method for FHB. Use serial passage through wheat under pathogen pressure to select an FHB-suppressive microbiome.

Approach:
We will conduct multi-year inoculated field trials evaluating fungicide and cultivar combinations and disease outcomes, alongside greenhouse serial-passage experiments selecting wheat head microbiomes under pathogen pressure. Disease severity, FDK, yield, and DON will be measured, while microbiomes are characterized and tested for consistent FHB suppression.