ARS researchers are helping wheat farmers deal with a devastating crop disease. ARS scientists in Lincoln, Neb. released new lines of common and durum wheat with resistance to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB). FHB, commonly known as scab, significantly affects wheat and barley, resulting in approximately $1B in yield losses annually in the U.S. and worldwide.
ARS scientists used modern and conventional breeding technologies to transfer a new FHB-resistance gene [Fhb7The2] from wild grass to wheat and developed a new germplasm named ‘WGC002’ and many other wheat breeding lines. These new wheat lines derived from WGC002 have exhibited desirable agronomic traits in addition to FHB resistance across different locations and seasons. They will be released as varieties or germplasm following further development and evaluation. Scientists expect a substantial reduction in U.S. economic losses from wheat crops affected by FHB within a few years if farmers adopt new varieties with this resistance gene. — Story contributed the USDA Ag Research Service
