Review: Recent developments in research on fusarium head blight of wheat in Canada

Abstract

The recent increase in prevalence and severity of fusarium head blight (FHB), in cereals in Canada and elsewhere, has caused hardship and economic loss to producers and the grain industry. This review emphasizes Canadian contributions, but incorporates studies from North America to put that research into perspective. Since the reviews of Sutton in 1982 and Miller in 1994, significant advances in our understanding of the epidemiology of the disease have occurred that are fundamental to the development of appropriate management strategies. Also, we now better understand the genetics of resistance in wheat and there is a consensus that resistant cultivars will provide the most stable and durable solution to the problem of FHB. Our knowledge of the genetic basis of resistance in wheat, and the development of molecular markers to facilitate early generation selection for resistance to FHB, are essential tools to this end. Resistant cultivars will ensure stable yields and high-quality grain free of mycotoxins.