Project Number: 5325-21430-006-04
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Sep 09, 2002
End Date: Apr 30, 2007

Objective:
: To obtain wheat plants resistant to Fusarium Head Blight by genetically engineering resistance to the trichothecene mycotoxins produced by Fusarium fungi. To test whether overexpression of wild type ribosomal protein L3 will confer resistance to trichothecenes in plants. To test whether variants of plant ribosomal L3 proteins will protect plants from trichothecene toxicity and Fusarium Head Blight disease.

Approach:
The target site for the toxic effects of trichothecene mycotoxins is ribosomal protein L3. Plant genes encoding wild type ribosomal protein L3 under the control of strong constitutive promoters will be transformed into plants. Transgenic plants with high levels of L3 will be identified. Resistant variants of plant ribosomal proteins L3 will be identified by transforming the corresponding plant genes into yeast and selecting for growth on trichothecenes. Promising variants will be transformed into plants. Transgenic plants either over-expressing wild-type L3 or expressing trichothecene-resistant variants of L3 will be tested for resistance to mycotoxins and Fusarium infection. Documents SCA with Rutgers University. BSL-1, 12/11/01

Project Team

Blechl, Ann Nilgun Tumer - Professor, Biotech Center 510 559-5716

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003

Related National Programs

Plant Biological and Molecular Processes (302)   Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products (306)