FHB and DON control: Exploiting the known and discovering the new (NICHOLSON_J17ICASE1)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Graduate Office
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major threat to wheat production causing yield loss and contamination of grain with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). Most UK wheat varieties are highly susceptible to FHB and achieving resistance remains a major challenge internationally. Developing highly resistant varieties is difficult because resistance is quantitative (controlled by so-called quantitative trait loci (QTL)), and not expressed in all environments or wheat backgrounds. In addition, resistance that limits FHB symptoms is not always accompanied by reduced DON contamination of grain.
Limagrain UK Limited has developed wheat lines carrying different FHB resistance QTL. This project will identify which FHB QTL are most potent in UK winter wheat backgrounds and under UK conditions. It will also establish which QTL restrict FHB symptoms and those that limit DON accumulation. The position of the QTL will be fine-mapped and novel DNA markers will be produced to enable plant breeders to use these resistances in breeding programmes and to assist efforts to clone the genes responsible.
Research at JIC has identified a new source of FHB resistance that reduces FHB symptoms and DON accumulation. This resistance will be genetically characterised through detailed phenotyping and genetic mapping studies to identify QTL controlling FHB and DON accumulation and to develop wheat lines with which to isolate and localise individual QTL.
Limagrain UK Limited has developed wheat lines carrying different FHB resistance QTL. This project will identify which FHB QTL are most potent in UK winter wheat backgrounds and under UK conditions. It will also establish which QTL restrict FHB symptoms and those that limit DON accumulation. The position of the QTL will be fine-mapped and novel DNA markers will be produced to enable plant breeders to use these resistances in breeding programmes and to assist efforts to clone the genes responsible.
Research at JIC has identified a new source of FHB resistance that reduces FHB symptoms and DON accumulation. This resistance will be genetically characterised through detailed phenotyping and genetic mapping studies to identify QTL controlling FHB and DON accumulation and to develop wheat lines with which to isolate and localise individual QTL.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Paul Nicholson (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Lola Gonzalez Penades (Student) |
| Description | Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a damaging disease of wheat and other cereals. The disease is of particular concern because the causal fungal pathogens produce mycotoxins that accumulate in grain and pose a risk to animals and humans that feed on contaminated grain. FHB has become a serious concern in many parts of the world as changing conditions lead to warm, wet periods at the time of flowering which provides an ideal environment of the pathogen to infect wheat. I have been focused to characterise and fine-map two quantitative trait locus (QTLs) associated with FHB resistance at chromosomes 5A and 2D of wheat. With this award I will be able to define the position on the genetic sources of wheat enabling FHB resistance. |
| Exploitation Route | Outcomes of the current project may help plant breeders to develop FHB resistant wheat varieties to reduce yield losses and the contamination of grain with mycotoxins. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/people/lola-gonzalez-penades/ |
| Description | Volunteering at the Norwich Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I volunteered at the Norwich Science Festival in Norwich on Autumn 2017 and 2019. The activity planned for each year was different. Last year, for example, my role was to run an activity for children about pea genetics. Children needed to construct a pea plant by using genetic concepts. The purpose of doing these activities is to approach scientific concepts to young students and parents. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2019 |