Genetics and improvement of fusarium head blight resistance in Canadian spring wheat

Term: 4 years, starting in 2020

Status: Ongoing

Funding Amount: $150,000

Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Dean Spaner (University of Alberta)

Funding Partners: Alberta Wheat Commission, Western Grains Research Foundation.

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Project Description

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating fungal disease of wheat that causes major yield loss and quality deterioration in grain. Genetic resistance is the most effective and environment friendly strategy to control FHB. Although studies have been conducted in Canada on FHB, including identification of FHB resistance genes and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for FHB resistance, there is still need to better understand the genetics of FHB in Canadian wheat and to develop wheat cultivars with improved resistance against this disease. This project will help better understand the genetics of FHB resistance and generate resistant germplasm in Canadian wheat background to facilitate development of FHB resistant cultivars. This will result in the availability of more FHB resistant cultivars for wheat farmers of Canada.