F3711: Functional genomics of the wheat-Fusarium interaction

The main aim is to fine-map and clone the prominent wheat Fusarium-resistance locus Qfhs.ifa-5A and to functionally test and map candidate genes for Qfhs.ifa-5A based on RNA-profiling work done in the first funding period. To produce a higher resolved map for the region we will screen an existing fine-mapping population of 2500 F3 individuals. A refined marker order will be derived from radiation hybrids generated of the Qfhs.ifa-5A-donor CM- 82036 (collaboration with the groups of S. Kianian (North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND) and L. Cattivelli (CRA, Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy)). 2000 gamma-irradiated lines derived from the line Remus+Qfhs.ifa-5A (in M4) will be phenotyped for loss of Qfhs.ifa-5A. These strategies should provide markers close to the physical position of the QTL, which will be used to screen a non-gridded BAC library of CM-82036 (cooperation with Hélène Berges, CNGRV, Toulouse, France; in synergy with F3708). Selected BACs will be sequenced and used for establishing a contig of the 5A QTL region. We also plan to establish a combined transcriptome AND metabolome profile of the wheat/Fusarium interaction (with F3706 and F3713) and perform an association mapping study of expression-QTL (eQTL) for resistance against Fusarium head blight (FHB).   

Hermann Buerstmayr Prof.
Abteilung Pflanzenzüchtung
Institut für Biotechnologie in der Pflanzenproduktion
Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20
3430 Tulln an der Donau

Research Interests: 

  • Plant breeding: focus on cereal crops, especially bred wheat and durum wheat.
  • Improvement of phenotyping methods, germplasm evaluation, characterization and utilization of genetic resources, germplasm enhancement.
  • Breeding for increased disease resistance, focus on quantitative and durable resistance against Fusarium, Puccinia, Tilletia.
  • Molecular breeding: Genetic analysis of quantitative traits, QTL mapping, association mapping, genomic selection, development of methods and tools for genomics assisted breeding.