Open AccessOn the trail of a cereal killer: recent advances in Fusarium graminearum pathogenomics and host resistance
Author(s) -
KAZAN KEMAL,
GARDINER DONALD M.,
MANNERS JOHN M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2011.00762.x
Subject(s) - trichothecene , biology , gibberella zeae , fusarium , mycotoxin , pathogen , virulence , host (biology) , zearalenone , gibberella , microbiology and biotechnology , host resistance , plant disease , botany , gene , genetics , immunology
SUMMARY The ascomycete fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (sexual stage: Gibberella zeae ) causes the devastating head blight or scab disease on wheat and barley, and cob or ear rot disease on maize. Fusarium graminearum infection causes significant crop and quality losses. In addition to roles as virulence factors during pathogenesis, trichothecene mycotoxins (e.g. deoxynivalenol) produced by this pathogen constitute a significant threat to human and animal health if consumed in respective food or feed products. In the last few years, significant progress has been made towards a better understanding of the processes involved in F. graminearum pathogenesis, toxin biosynthesis and host resistance mechanisms through the use of high‐throughput genomic and phenomic technologies. In this article, we briefly review these new advances and also discuss how future research can contribute to the development of sustainable plant protection strategies against this important plant pathogen.