EU-PROJECT QLRT-2000-02044

 NOVEL TOOLS FOR DEVELOPING FUSARIUM RESISTANT AND TOXIN FREE WHEAT FOR EUROPE

 Author: P. Ruckenbauer, IFA-Tulln / Austria

  Background

Wheat is Europe's most important cereal crop, cultivated on over 16 Million ha, yielding over 88 Million metric tons per year. The wheat quality and consumer safety is threatened by Fusarium Ear Blight (FEB) caused by Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum. Most of the wheat varieties grown in the EU today are susceptible to this disease. Crop management and chemical control measures to prevent the disease and associated mycotoxin contamination are either not available or not feasible. Besides the yield impact of the disease, several toxins produced by the fungus may enter human and animal food chain. The most prevalent mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. are trichothecenes like deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and T2-toxin, which may cause serious illness and imuno-repression in humans. The development and cultivation of resistant varieties is the most reliable and environmentally sound means to combat this disease. Initiatives on European, national and regional level to tackle the disease are funded and involve a wide range of expertise from public and private research institutions as well as breeding and food processing companies.

  Objective

The objective is to reduce mycotoxin contamination in wheat at the start of the production chain by means of improved FEB resistance. The development of new cultivars with low risk of mycotoxin accumulation is therefore of utmost importance. To improve the efficiency of conventional selection for resistant lines, artificial infection in mist irrigated fields and under controlled conditions are performed [(Workpackage 1 (WP1)]. This will enable the team of participants to develop molecular markers for selection of FEB resistance at the genetic level by QTL mapping of segregating populations as well as high resolution mapping and selective genotyping of resistant germplasm (WP 2). The search for innovative selection techniques (in vitro selection, candidate resistance genes and pathogenesis related protein) for resistance against the fungus and toxin accumulation are part of further trials of the project (WP 3). To meet the goals a multi-disciplinary approach involving plant pathology, plant breeding, molecular genetics using phenotyping, genomics and in vitro research methods is applied.

 Expected Achievements

Reliable and efficient selection criteria will be identified and published. The selection for improved Fusarium head blight resistance with a concomitant reduction of mycotoxin contamination in the grain can be achieved. The development of new FEB resistant and adapted germplasm of wheat with significantly reduced risk of mycotoxin contamination will be performed by using novel molecular markers linked to FEB resistance loci (genes). With those results, new and efficient selection tools, either marker-assisted selection (WP2) and/or in vitro selection (WP3) for FEB resistance improvement can be developed. Further, the Fusarium-toxin-wheat system at the level of single genes/single resistance mechanisms will be elucidated, and the knowledge will be used as a basis for further research on resistance mechanisms. Finally, candidate resistance genes will be provided for breeding companies and proteins inhibiting fungal growth will be identified.

Interaction with other Fusarium related research projects and initiatives

The project was designed to be complementary and synergistic to other European Project cluster and projects respectively (Three RTD projects of Key Action 1 under Programme 1 within the EC, 5. Framework Program 1 as ”Prevention of ochratoxin A in cereals”, ”Prevention of Fusarium mycotoxins entering the human and animal food chain”, and ”Early detection of toxigenic Fusarium species and ochratoxigenic fungi in plant products” as well as ”Agriculturally Important Toxigenic Fungi” (COST 835) and ”Quality Control Measures in the Production and Processing Chain to Reduce Fusarium Mycotoxin Contamination of Food and Feed Grains”(Concerted Action # PL98-4094 ).

Project Summary:

QLRT 2000-02044

Starting date: September 1, 2001

End date: August 31, 2005

Total EU-contribution: 1.934.618 Euro

Project Partner contribution: 596.413 Euro

Project structure:

WP1: Phenotyping of FEB resistance and its components in wheat

WP2: Molecular genetic characterization of FEB resistance in wheat

WP3: In vitro selection methods and candidate resistance genes for FEB

Project Partner:

¹Associate Contractor

²Associated State

Project website to be hosted at IFA-Tulln Server http://www.ifa-tulln.ac.at/