A combinatorial approach to controlling Fusarium head blight of cereals
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Graduate Office
Abstract
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.
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.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Paul Nicholson (Primary Supervisor) | |
| John Haidoulis (Student) |
Publications
Haidoulis JF
(2022)
Tissue-specific transcriptome responses to Fusarium head blight and Fusarium root rot.
in Frontiers in plant science
Haidoulis J
(2020)
Different effects of phytohormones on Fusarium head blight and Fusarium root rot resistance in Brachypodium distachyon
in Journal of Plant Interactions
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M011216/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1777251 | Studentship | BB/M011216/1 | 01/10/2016 | 28/02/2021 | John Haidoulis |
| Description | Several plant hormones significantly alter the resistance of Brachypodium root and floral tissues to Fusarium infection. There is evidence of a class of phythormones that can improve Fusarium head blight and Fusarium root rot resistance. Utilising gene expression tools, there are global transcriptome differences between root and floral tissues of Brachypodium distachyon in response to Fusarium infection. Between the same two tissues, the transcriptome of Fusarium graminearum during attack is different for certain groups of genes. Fusarium graminearum can produce a plant hormone ethylene and the pathway responsible has been identified. The Fusarium genes responsible have also been identified. Triazole fungicides induce endogenous transcriptomic changes in Brachypodium leaves. These effects appear antagonistic to the Fusarium head blight resistance response. There was no evidence of a combinatorial effect from fungicides and phythormones on Fusarium head blight resistance in the wheat system. |
| Exploitation Route | My research findings can provide more information on the lifestyle and virulence of Fusarium for planning novel crop protection strategies. Since there is relatively little known about Fusarium root infection, I provide some evidence for potential new plant pathology research opportunities focussed on Fusarium root rot. Certain chemical companies or research groups might be able to utilise this knowledge of hormones on Fusarium resistance to develop synthetic analogues with agonistic or antagonistic effects for use as chemical protectants in agriculture. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Environment |
| Description | Deletion of Fusarium Ethylene Gene |
| Organisation | Rothamsted Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We developed the hypothesis for the topic and performed the initial experiments for ethylene production and gene identification through gene expression studies. We then transformed the target gene and performed deletion validation experiments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator gave advice and supplied the protocol for the deletion of the candidate gene. They then designed the necessary primers and provided the selectable marker plasmid. The collaborator then provided one-to-one teaching of the Fusarium transformation protocol and then selected deletion strains. |
| Impact | We were able to develop Fusarium graminearum deletion strains for the candidate ethylene gene. This research collaboration is not multi-disciplinary. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | BASF Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | During my visit to my project's industrial partner BASF in Germany, I gave a presentation on my research to industry scientists alongside my industry supervisors. This led to discussion afterwards and allowed me to gain experience in presenting research to a different audience. We were then able to make plans for future research topics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | European Fusarium Seminar Poster Presentation, Austria. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I presented a poster of my work at the EFS14 in Tulln, Austria in the scope of raising interest for my topic and generating useful discussion. This presentation allowed me to begin future research plans on this topic as a collaboration with Rothamsted, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.efs14.at/index.php |
| Description | Monogram Poster Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I presented a poster of my work on the various effects of plant hormones on Fusarium infection at the annual Monogram conference in Norwich, UK. The scope was to generate interest on my research topic which raised many useful discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.monogram.ac.uk/MgNW2018.php |
| Description | Poster Presentation - Molecular Biology of Plant Pathogens 2019, John Innes Centre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This conference was focused on the current plant pathogen research that was relevant to my research and allowed for networking with other researchers. During the conference, I presented a poster towards a large group of postgraduate students. The intended purpose was to generate interest and have useful scientific discussions about my research topic. Interest was generated from my work and led to interesting discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Poster presentation - Brachypodium 4th International Conference Huesca, Spain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This conference was focused on the current Brachypodium research that was very relevant to my research. Furthermore, it allowed me to network with other researchers that were working on similar and interesting topics. During the conference I presented a poster of my work to many international research groups. My presentation generated interest from several members which led to important discussion about the research and future work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://brachypodium2019.unizar.es/ |
| Description | Rothamsted Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | During my visit to Rothamsted Research, I gave a presentation on my work to experts in my field of research including several postgraduate students. The purpose of the talk was to give background information on our collaboration which then resulted in questions, discussion, and new scientific method sharing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |