Scientists discover a protein that naturally enhances wheat resistance to head scab

(American Phytopathological Society) Fusarium Head Blight is caused by a fungus that produces heat-stable trichothecene mycotoxins, which help the disease spread. To stop the spread, plant breeders are working to develop cultivars with improved resistance to FHB. A team of plant pathologists primarily based at Rutgers University recently generated wheat overexpressing two non-specific lipid transfer proteins and found that this enhanced protection against the fungus and led to a reduction of one of the major mycotoxins.

Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - May 25, 2021 Category: Biology Source Type: news