Detoxification of mycotoxins in Fusarium head blight of wheat

Lead Applicant: Jennifer Geddes-McAlister

Research Priority: Plant Health & Protection 

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2023/2024

Research Centre: NA

Research Summary: Across Canada, fungal diseases have a devastating impact on the agricultural sector. For Ontario’s most productive crops, Fusarium spp. infection leads to losses approaching $300 million annually through yield reduction in corn (e.g., ear rot), cereals (e.g., Fusarium head blight [FHB]), and soybeans (e.g., sudden death syndrome). Additionally, mycotoxin production by the fungus (e.g., deoxynivalenol [DON]) has severe consequences for the livestock and poultry industries and human health through the consumption of contaminated feed and processed grains, respectively. Current management strategies against FHB include fungicide application at heading, which reduces infection, but not dangerous mycotoxins within the grains. This project builds upon the success of a previous project to identify host proteins associated with reduced mycotoxin accumulation. The long term goal is to develop new wheat lines through selective breeding, with enhanced detoxification capabilities towards DON, improving crop yield and quality for farmers.