BREEDING AND DEVELOPMENT OF DNA MARKERS FOR FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN WHEAT

Project Title 1 - Breeding Fusarium Head Blight Resistant Spring Wheat: (1) Develop Fusarium head blight resistant wheat germplasm and varieties adapted for commercial production in Minnesota and the surrounding region. (2) Characterize the level of FHB resistance of all wheat varieties grown in the region. (3) Characterize identified sources of FHB resistance in spring wheat by evaluating the types of resistance and by haplotyping with DNA markers linked to resistance QTL. (4) Introgress and pyramid novel sources of FHB resistance into adapted spring wheat backgrounds. (5) Utilize MAS to increase frequency of FHB QTLs in advanced lines. Project Title 2 - QTL Mapping of Wheat Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in the Japanese Landrace PI 81791: (1) Characterize FHB resistance in RIL lines from the cross Wheaton/PI 81971 and identify highly resistant, agronomically adapted lines suitable for use as breeding parents. (2) Identify QTLs and associated DNA markers for FHB resistance in RIL from the cross Wheaton/PI 81971. Validate identified QTLs using QTL-NILs.