Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Wheat, a crucial global staple, faces significant yield threats from Fusarium Head
Blight (FHB), primarily caused by Fusarium graminearum. Although integrated
efforts like crop variety mixtures are expected to improve FHB management, their
effectiveness varies often due to a limited understanding of how different plants in
these mixtures interact. A promising yet underexplored strategy is Neighbor-
Modulated Immunity (NMI), where interactions between neighboring plants can
naturally boost disease resistance. Understanding and leveraging NMI could
improve the effectiveness of variety mixtures in combating FHB. This study aims
at developing the tools to deepen our understanding of how plant-plant
interactions influence agronomic traits in cultivated crops, with a focus on
exploring the concept of NMI in the wheat response to F. graminearum. We have
optimized a pipeline to investigate NMI, and used it as a proof-of-concept to
assess the effectiveness of the strategy. Resistance to leaf infections caused by F.
graminearum was evaluated using a coleoptile stage infection assay in several
small screenings. Results indicate that the emmer wheat accession MG5323, when
grown alongside the bread wheat cultivar Bob-white, exhibited enhanced
immunity to F. graminearum. This suggests a potential relationship between
MG5323 and Bob-white, providing evidence of below-ground interactions among
these genotypes. This finding highlights the need for further research to uncover
the molecular mechanisms underlying NMI. To investigate these putative
interactions, a root phenotyping cassette was developed and optimized to examine
root interactions and identify traits associated with disease resistance. While this
initial study did not reveal significant findings, the successful development of this
tool for analyzing root characteristics offers a valuable resource for future
research.