description
- Wheat is the most important European crop. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major threat to wheat production. FHB reduces yields and leads to the accumulation of mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) in grain. Many European wheat varieties are highly susceptible to FHB and achieving resistance remains a major challenge. Fungicides offer a viable means to control FHB, but control of DON contamination of grain is difficult on highly susceptible varieties. We have discovered that Fusarium exploits various plant hormone signalling pathways to overcome host defences. This provides an opportunity to develop a new means to control FHB: attenuation of hormone signalling combined with fungicide application. The current project represents collaboration between the John Innes Centre and BASF, one of the world's leading chemical companies. We have developed Brachypodium distachyon as a model for the study of interactions between Fusarium and grass species. We have identified a number of hormone pathways that influence resistance to FHB. Within this project both mutants and chemical treatments will be used to quantify the role of individual phytohormones in susceptibility. Gene expression studies will identify those genes associated with alterations in disease resistance and provide additional targets for investigation. Findings from the Brachypodium system will be translated into wheat under the guidance of BASF scientists to develop a combinatorial approach of chemical treatment to increase disease resistance in wheat with fungicide application to reduce fungal infection.