Development of high yielding, Eastern Canadian hard and soft red winter wheat cultivars and germplasm with increased resistance to Fusarium head blight and leaf diseases

Development of high yielding winter wheat cultivars, resistant or tolerant to different stresses, with good agronomic and quality characteristics, is important to wheat growers and industry. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious wheat disease caused by a fungus Fusarium graminearum. FHB epidemics in Ontario were reported in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2015. Grain farmers, millers, and consumers benefit directly from improvements in FHB resistance in new wheat cultivars. The SeCan members, and wheat growers in general, will increase on farm profits by planting high yielding, Eastern Canadian hard and soft red winter wheat cultivars and germplasm, with increased resistance to FHB and leaf diseases. By partnering with University of Guelph’s wheat breeding program, SeCan will provide new and improved wheat genetics to SeCan partners, with increase yield and grain production.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ljiljana Tamburic-Ilincic

Student:

Partner:

SeCan

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Guelph; University of Manitoba

Program: