New discovery could help wheat resist deadly fungus

By Andi Anderson

A recent breakthrough by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) could help farmers combat Fusarium Head Blight, a major wheat disease caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum.

This disease thrives in warm, wet conditions and causes over $1 billion in annual losses, especially in wheat and barley crops. It also produces harmful mycotoxins, making grain unsafe for food and livestock.

Now, ARS scientists have discovered that deleting a specific fungal gene called FgTPP1 greatly weakens the fungus’s ability to infect wheat. This research could improve wheat resistance and reduce contamination risks, benefiting both farmers and global markets.

Matthew Helm, a research biologist and lead author, explained that FgTPP1 helps the fungus turn off the plant's natural defences, making it easier to spread the disease. In their study, Helm’s team compared wheat heads infected by normal fungus and those infected by fungus with the FgTPP1 gene removed.

The results were significant: wheat exposed to the gene-deleted fungus had much lower infection rates—just 18% to 27%, compared to 50% in wheat infected by normal fungus.

The researchers now aim to identify specific wheat proteins targeted by FgTPP1. If scientists can prevent the fungus from disabling these proteins—without harming the plant itself—wheat crops could naturally resist Fusarium more effectively.

Helm says this finding adds "another tool in the toolbox" for farmers. By exploring genetic solutions, this research offers a promising path toward healthier crops, safer grain, and higher profits for farmers, while supporting the $5.94 billion U.S. wheat export industry.

This discovery could also help protect barley and other cereal crops in the future.

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