Fighting Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat—a Remedy from Afar

doi:10.11983/CBB20060

Abstract

Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum is a devastating disease on wheat not only because of severe yield loss, but also contamination of the grain with deadly mycotoxin. A recent study significantly advanced our understanding how wheat plants can be protected by resistance genes and provided tools in the fight against a major disease. A team led by Prof. Kong in Shandong Agricultural University successfully identified an important FHB resistance gene, Fhb7, and illuminated a mechanism by which this gene might have evolved in plants and a mechanism by which the resistance protein overcome the pathogen. This is an elegant study that not only opens new window to our understanding of plant-pathogen co-evolution, but also allows us to better utilize the rich gene resources of Thinopyrum elongatum for effective breeding of FHB resistance and other traits in wheat.

Key words: Fusarium head blight, wheat, disease resistance gene, DON, horizontal gene transfer

Jian-Min Zhou. Fighting Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat—a Remedy from Afar[J]. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, 2020, 55(2): 123-125.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://www.chinbullbotany.com/EN/10.11983/CBB20060

https://www.chinbullbotany.com/EN/Y2020/V55/I2/123

Figures/Tables 1

References 8

[1]	牛皓, 姜玉梅, 牛吉山 ( 2020). 小麦抗赤霉病遗传育种研究进展. 农业生物技术学报 28, 530-542.
[2]	朱展望, 徐登安, 程顺和, 高春保, 夏先春, 郝元峰, 何中虎 ( 2018). 中国小麦品种抗赤霉病基因Fhb1的鉴定与溯源. 作物学报 44, 473-482.
[3]	Bai G, Shaner G ( 2004). Management and resistance in wheat and barley to Fusarium head blight. Anuu Rev Phytopathol 42, 135-161.
[4]	Guo J, Zhang X, Hou Y, Cai J, Shen X, Zhou T, Xu H, Ohm HW, Wang H, Li A, Han F, Wang H, Kong L ( 2015). High-density mapping of the major FHB resistance gene Fhb7 derived from Thinopyrum ponticum and its pyramiding with Fhb1 by marker-assisted selection. Theor Appl Genet 128, 2301-2316.
[5]	Li G, Zhou J, Jia H, Gao Z, Fan M, Luo Y, Zhao P, Xue S, Li N, Yuan Y, Ma S, Kong Z, Jia L, An X, Jiang G, Liu W, Cao W, Zhang R, Fan J, Xu X, Liu Y, Kong Q, Zheng S, Wang Y, Qin B, Cao S, Ding Y, Shi J, Yan H, Wang X, Ran C, Ma Z ( 2019). Mutation of a histidine-rich calcium-binding-protein gene in wheat confers resistance to Fusarium head blight. Nat Genet 51, 1106-1112.
[6]	Su Z, Bernardo A, Tian B, Chen H, Wang S, Ma H, Cai S, Liu D, Zhang D, Li T, Trick H, Amand PS, Yu J, Zhang Z, Bai G ( 2019). A deletion mutation in TaHRC confers Fhb1 resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat. Nat Genet 51, 1099-1105.
[7]	Wang H, Sun S, Ge W, Zhao L, Hou B, Wang K, Lyu Z, Chen L, Xu S, Guo J, Li M, Su P, Li X, Wang G, Bo C, Fang X, Zhuang W, Cheng X, Wu J, Dong L, Chen W, Li W, Xiao G, Zhao J, Hao Y, Xu Y, Gao Y, Liu W, Liu Y, Yin H, Li J, Li X, Zhao Y, Wang X, Ni F, Ma X, Li A, Xu SS, Bai G, Nevo E, Gao C, Ohm H, Kong L ( 2020). Horizontal gene transfer of Fhb7 from fungus underlies Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat. Science doi: 10.1126/science.aba5435.
[8]	Zhang X, Shen X, Hao Y, Cai J, Ohm HW, Kong L ( 2011). A genetic map of Lophopyrum ponticum chromosome 7E, harboring resistance genes to Fusarium head blight and leaf rust. Theor Appl Genet 122, 263-270.

[1]	Xi Luo, Qifang Wang, Jianjia Wang, Qianxi Yang, Hongfei Fang, Miao Hong, Qi Zhang, Ling Cai, Xijie Zhou, Dingyong Huang, Xinqing Zheng. Newly recorded coral species near the region of Dongshan, Fujian Province expands the biodiversity of the northernmost scleractinian communities of China [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2026, 34(2): 25335-.
[2]	Tingting Zhou, Haomiao Zhang, Haojie Wang, Jian Liao, Xiaodan Chen, Nan Yang, Bo-Ping Han, Zhenyuan Liu. Geographical patterns and key influence factors of Odonata species diversity in Guangdong Province [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2026, 34(2): 25337-.
[3]	Sichun Qiu, Xi Kang, Shuqi Zhang, Yuchen Sun, Shiyan Liu, Xue Shi, Shengbao Xu. Exploration of Rapid Generation Advancement Models and Genetic Transformation Efficiency in Xinjiang Spring Wheat Varieties [J]. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, 2026, 61(2): 291-299.
[4]	ZHU Xi, HE Zhi-Bin, DU Ming-Wu, ZHAO Li-Wen, WU Dan-Dan. Dataset of crop harvest traits and yields from long-term observation plots of oasis farmland ecosystems in the middle part of Hexi Corridor from 2004 to 2010 [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(8): 1312-1320.
[5]	BAI Fan, WANG Yang. Dataset of plant species composition and community characteristics from a long-term observation plot of warm-temperate deciduous broadleaf forests in Dongling Mountain, Beijing from 2007 to 2015 [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(8): 1229-1235.
[6]	LI Shao-Wei, HE Yong-Tao, SUN Wei, DAI Er-Fu. Dataset of crop harvest traits and yield at long-term observation farmlands in Lhasa River Valley from 2016 to 2020 [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(8): 1321-1328.
[7]	Jia Gaiya, Zhang Na, Li Hongwei, Li Bin, Li Zhensheng, Kong Zhaosheng, Zheng Qi. Genetic Analysis and Molecular Marker Development for the WTS135‒a Common Wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum Substitution Line with Leaf Rust Resistance [J]. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, 2025, 60(5): 804-815.
[8]	Zhang Jingjing, Huang Wenbin, Chen Yiting, Yang Zepeng, Ke Weiye, Peng Zhaojie, Wei Shichao, Zhang Zhiwei, Hu Yisi, Yu Wenhua, Zhou Wenliang. Reef-building coral diversity and distribution characteristics in the National Nature Reserve for Marine Ecology of Guangdong Nanpeng Islands [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(4): 24424-.
[9]	Liao Yaqing, Huang Zefeng, Wang Xiaoyun, Zhang Libiao, Wu Yi, Yu Wenhua. An updated checklist of Chiroptera in Guangdong Province and a molecular barcode database [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(4): 24584-.
[10]	Xu Tingyang, Liu Yuchen, Wang Wanpeng, Su Hang, Su Kunlong, Wu Zhenying, Lϋ Ming, Li Fuli, Wang Xiaoshan, Fu Chunxiang. Effects of Different Plant Growth Regulators on Wheat Growth and Development in the Saline-alkali Land [J]. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, 2025, 60(3): 354-362.
[11]	ZHAO Meng-Yang, ZHUANG Hao-Ran, XU De-Hao, MA Guo-Rong, MA Yong-Cheng, FENG Ke-Peng. Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope characteristics of maize fields in arid and semi-arid oasis irrigation areas with SPAC system: variability traits and influencing factors [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(2): 256-267.
[12]	LI Xiao-Hua, LIU Jie, LI Dan-Dan, ZHANG Le-Hua. Population structure and dynamic characteristics of the endangered plant Rhododendron xiaoxidongense [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(11): 1844-1857.
[13]	Zhenyuan Liu, Haomiao Zhang, Tingting Zhou, Yuxin Tan, Bo-Ping Han. A dataset on the checklist and geographical distributions of Odonata from Guangdong, China [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(10): 25348-.
[14]	ZHANG Jian-Hua, ZHOU Xiao-Yang, DUAN Shan-Shan, BAI Jia-Ni, XU Long-Chao. Carbon density and distribution characteristics of two typical shrublands in Dongling Mountain, Beijing [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(10): 1721-1732.
[15]	ZHENG Li-Yuan, XU Xi-Zhu, YIN Jia-Qi, SUN Xiao-Wen, WANG Yan. Niche and interspecific associations of Glycine soja community on abandoned farmland near a river in suburban [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(10): 1685-1697.