Research BAR-CP

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Barley Coordinated Project (BAR-CP)

Protecting U.S. Barley from Fusarium Head Blight and DON.

Barley Coordinated Project Committee Members as of: 3/2020

Chair, Brian Steffenson, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Vice-Chair - Vacant

Austin Case, ABInBev - Global Barley Research, Fort Collins, CO

Project Description:

Minimizing the impact of Fusarium head blight (FHB) on barley production in the U.S. requires a multi-dimensional, yet focused and coordinated research effort. The Barley Coordinated Project (CP) seeks to combine existing lines of productive research with new avenues of investigation to develop a set of tools and disease management strategies that will minimize disease risk and mycotoxin contamination to producers and end-users of barley. This toolbox will be developed in coordination with other research areas (see below) and will consist of: 1) varieties with enhanced levels of resistance to FHB, lower levels of mycotoxins, superior agronomic performance, and good end-use quality; 2) chemical and biological formulations, application procedures, and a disease forecasting model that maximize efficacy; 3) cultural management strategies that reduce the potential of pathogen inoculum to contribute to disease epidemics; and 4) a set of best management practices that incorporate our current understanding of the tools available to combat this disease.

FY20-21 Research Objectives:

The Barley CP is organized around four of the Research Areas (RA) outlined in the USWBSI Action Plan. A set of ten objectives are established within these four RAs that the CP will address either directly or indirectly via coordination with these other RAs.

I. Variety Development and Host Resistance (VDHR).

Objective 1.	Screen Hordeum germplasm to identify new sources of resistance.
Objective 2.	Map and validate novel QTL for resistance to FHB and the accumulation of mycotoxins in barley.
Objective 3.	Evaluate and implement new breeding methods to increase resistance to FHB and the accumulation of mycotoxins.
Objective 4.	Develop new barley varieties with enhanced resistance to FHB and lower mycotoxins.

II. Gene Discovery and Engineering Resistance (GDER)

Objective 5.	Identify barley gene variants that increase FHB resistance and/or reduce mycotoxin accumulation.
Objective 6.	Identify or create variation for genes and mechanisms of resistance within germplasm collections and mutant populations and introgress novel variants into adapted germplasm.

III. Pathogen Biology and Genetics (PBG)

Objective 7.	Investigate plant-pathogen interactions that increase our understanding of the infection process; pathogen colonization; sporulation and spread; and accumulation of mycotoxins.
Objective 8.	Elucidate the epidemiology of colonization and survival of Fusarium graminearum on host tissue, disease development, and mycotoxin accumulation.

IV. FHB Management (MGMT)

Objective 9.	Evaluate chemical, biological and cultural management strategies that reduce FHB and/or mycotoxin accumulation in barley.
Objective 10.	Develop and promote best management strategies through integrated disease management that is robust to conditions experienced in barley production fields in diverse geographies.

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Summary of Funding
	FY18 (2018-19)	FY19 (2019-20)
Number of Projects:	14	14
Number of PIs:	13	13
Total Award Amount:	$883,141	$873,531
% Total Rec. Funding:	14.40%	14.34%
Research Projects:	FY18	FY19