USWBSI Abstract Viewer

2021 National Fusarium Head Blight Forum


Variety Development and Host Resistance (VDHR)

Invited Presenter

Serendipity and Strategy: Improving FHB Resistance in Hard Winter Wheat

Authors & Affiliations:

Allan Fritz (1), Marshall Clinesmith (1), and Jessica Rupp (2) 1. Kansas State University, Department of Agronomy, Manhattan, KS 2. Kansas State University, Department of Plant Pathology, Manhattan, KS

Corresponding Author:

Allan Fritz
Kansas State University
akf@ksu.edu

Abstract:

The Kansas State University wheat breeding program has been breeding for FHB resistance for more than 20 years. Identification and deployment of native resistance in the variety ‘Everest’ was a significant step toward improved management of disease but progress beyond the Everest level of resistance has been difficult. Phenotypic screening nurseries have facilitated the transfer of additional resistance from outside the hard winter wheat gene pool. Specifically, resistance derived from the soft wheat ‘Truman’ has been useful, but combining resistance with agronomic performance has been challenging. Recent results indicate a step change in the level of resistance with the best materials having 3 percent symptomatic spikelets compared to Everest at 20%. Materials are still in early generations, therefore agronomic performance has not be fully evaluated. However, visual phenotypes are superior to previous iterations. Additional sources of resistance are still needed. An effort to transfer resistance from Aegilops tauschii will be described. Future strategies for improvement of FHB resistance in the KSU wheat breeding program will also be discussed.


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