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by Johnny von Einem, University of Adelaide
FHB has caused significant harm to Australia’s wheat industry in recent years, with crops in the 2022 season suffering up to 100% yield losses.
The disease has been on the rise globally since the 1970s, but climate change has increased its prevalence.
“Australia’s reputation for producing high-quality wheat has been built on fortuitous climate conditions during flowering and grain fill, typically coinciding with the dry season, which helps avoid many fungus-caused diseases that thrive in humid weather,” says Dr. Yang.
“However, in the background of climate change, a wet spring in 2022 led to Fusarium head blight becoming widespread across eastern Australia.”
Australian durum wheat varieties are all highly susceptible to FHB, but it is unclear what level of resistance exists in bread-wheat varieties.
Dr. Yang hopes this fundamental discovery, published in Cell Host & Microbe , will counteract the growing prevalence of FHB and provide assurance to Australian growers.
“Our findings offer exciting prospects for developing new and enhanced forms of Fusarium head blight resistance,” Dr. Yang says. “By understanding the underlying mechanisms beyond Fhb1, we can innovate breeding strategies to diversify resistance sources.
“Our research opens the door to the development of more resilient and sustainable wheat varieties for future agriculture, and might shed light onto other Fusarium-caused diseases, such as crown rot.”