Characterising candidate genes for roles in Fusarium pseudograminearum-host interactions in the model cereal Brachypodium distachyon

Abstract

Fusarium Crown Rot (FCR) is a crop disease of global concern, causing yield losses and grain quality reduction in wheat and barley. In Australia, FCR is predominantly caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp) and costs the Australian wheat industry approximately AU$88 million dollars annually. Fp has a biphasic lifestyle and hence is classified as a hemi-biotrophic pathogen. Generally, during initial infection and colonisation of the host Fp is thought to be biotrophic and sources nutrition from living host tissue, whereas at later stages of infection, Fp switches to a necrotrophic lifestyle and sources nutrition from dead host tissue. Additionally, Fp can live saprophytically on residual plant material in the soil and produce spores that can remain viable for up to 16 months. Current control measures are focussed on reducing inoculum load. However, due to environmental and socioeconomic factors these can be difficult to implement. While the use of a highly