Location: Crop Production and Protection
Project Number: 0500-00053-005-233-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: May 1, 2026
End Date: Apr 30, 2030
Objective:
This project aims to increase availability of high-yielding, Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) resistant wheat varieties and provide farmers with data to support selection. It will improve breeding efficiency for FHB resistance and overall profitability through enhanced cooperative testing systems and the implementation of advanced breeding technologies.
Approach:
To achieve its goals, this project will advance FHB resistance breeding and testing at the University of Illinois, delivering high-performing, FHB-resistant wheat varieties. It will implement genomic selection, rapid generation advancement, and computer vision for Fusarium kernel damage assessment, expand outreach, and streamline cooperative testing through the unified Big6 Scab trial.