Mycotoxin-Degradation Strategies for Fusarium-Resistant Cereal Crops

Overview

Fusarium head blight, caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a devastating cereal crop disease that produces DON mycotoxins contaminating feed and causing severe economic losses in livestock and poultry industries. Current management relies on single-dose fungicide treatments at heading, which provide limited protection against accumulating mycotoxins. This research program uses a systems biology approach to uncover novel host-driven mycotoxin degradation strategies, with the long-term goal of developing seed lines possessing mycotoxin-degrading traits suitable for selective breeding and large-scale commercialization.

Technical specifications

Research approach:

• Whole genome sequencing of fungal isolates to identify infection-associated fungal proteins
• Construction of mutant strains using established gene deletion protocols for phenotypic assessment
• Proteomic and metabolomic profiling of DON-infected wheat spikelets to map host responses
• Identification of host proteins produced specifically in response to mycotoxin exposure rather than infection itself
• Characterization of plant pathways responsible for mycotoxin response and degradation
• Metabolite quantification to assess impact on plant health
• Gene discovery for selective breeding strategies targeting mycotoxin-degradation pathways

Validation activities:

• Ongoing validation of candidate host proteins associated with mycotoxin regulation
• Planned large-scale field trials at the Elora Research Station
• Pathway validation to confirm degradation mechanisms and identify breeding targets

Technology readiness level

The program has completed initial discovery work, including fungal genome sequencing, mutant strain construction, and proteomic/metabolomic profiling of infected wheat. Candidate host proteins linked to mycotoxin regulation have been identified and are currently undergoing validation. Future work will focus on characterizing degradation pathways, quantifying protective metabolites, and validating breeding targets. The long-term objective is to generate seed lines with mycotoxin-degrading traits and advance them through field trials toward commercialization. The research is backed by competitive federal funding and provincial support through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.