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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #389599
Research Project: Improvement of Biotic Stress Resistance in Durum and Hard Red Spring Wheat Using Genetics and Genomics

Location: Cereal Crops Research

Title: Genetic engineering to improve Fusarium head blight resistance in barley

Author
item ALHASHEL, ABDULLAH - North Dakota State University
item BALDWIN, THOMAS - North Dakota State University
item RASMUSSEN, JACK - North Dakota State University
item ZHONG, SHAOBIN - North Dakota State University
item Friesen, Timothy
item Yang, Shengming

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/5/2021
Publication Date: 11/6/2021
Citation: Alhashel, A., Baldwin, T., Rasmussen, J., Zhong, S., Friesen, T.L., Yang, S. 2021. Genetic engineering to improve Fusarium head blight resistance in barley. Meeting Abstract. GDER-009.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum is one of the most devastating diseases in barley. However, effective resistance has not been identified in barley germplasm. We are using two strategies in this study to engineer the host with various genotypes, host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) and CRISPR-mediated gene-editing. The FgGCN5 gene encodes a significant histone acetyltransferase in F. graminearum which is critical for pathogenicity, deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis, and pathogen survival. Targeting the FgGCN5 gene, we have generated transgenic plants to test if HIGS-mediated plant protection is gained in barley. The target for gene-editing is HvHRC, the barley ortholog of FHB1 (TaHRC) in wheat. Since the dominant TaHRC allele is required for disease susceptibility, we expect that FHB-resistant barley can be obtained from HvHRC knockout mutants. Using CRISPR technology, we developed loss-of-function mutants of HvHRC for phenotype screening. All the derived transgenic plants and mutants will be assessed for FHB resistance in both greenhouse and field conditions.