Masked mycotoxin content in winter wheat cultivars to enhance development of Fusarium resistance in Ontario wheat

Lead Applicant: Helen Booker

Research Priority: Plant Health & Protection Projects

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2022/2023

Research Centre: Ontario Crops Research Centre - Elora

Research Summary: Using resistant (AAC Tenacious) and susceptible (Wilkin) spring wheat we identified genes and biological processes associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB) infection and resistance at the key development point in the pathogen’s lifecycle – switching from the biotrophic to necrotrophic phase (48 hours after inoculation). Resistance involved detoxifying DON; however resistance was associated with inhibition and down-regulation of a defense pathway – programmed cell death (PCD); a possible cause for the disconnect between resistance responses in wheat. The revised proposal focuses on screening current cultivars for know fhb QTL, other loci for example Ppd-D1 associated with resistance and for masked mycotoxins in the grain.

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