Breeding and Genomics of Fusarium Head Blight in Soft Red Winter Wheat: Research Progress and Ongoing Projects.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum in the USA and results in reductions in both grain yield and quality in many production regions. More than 60 quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been mapped in wheat germplasm worldwide. Diagnostic molecular markers identified in initial mapping studies and tightly linked markers developed in a few fine-mapping studies of FHB resistance QTL are being applied in breeding using marker-assisted selection. This presentation will review the performance of some varieties and advanced lines which contain Virginia Tech and other native sources of resistance. The materials were evaluated in the uniform scab nurseries during the 2006 - 2007. The utility of native sources of FHB resistance will be highlighted based on breeding experience. Marker saturation of FHB resistance QTL regions in the cultivar Ernie and mapping of resistance QTL in the cultivar Massey will be presented as case studies. Combining of phenotypic and marker-assisted selection in breeding FHB resistance is discussed. Pyramiding different FHB resistance QTL from various exotic and native sources is the focus of current breeding efforts.