Scientists Discover Genes that May Prevent STB Disease in Wheat

Scientists from Rothamsted Research in the United Kingdom have identified two genes in wheat whose functions are to activate the wheat defense response of the previously discovered fungal gene critical in early wheat immune responses to diseases like Septoria tritici blotch (STB). STB is one of the most economically important diseases of wheat  which is caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola (Mg) and is a major threat to crop yields in the UK and worldwide.

Despite the fact that wheat is a major crop in the UK and STB a highly prevalent disease, very little was known about the mechanism that wheat may have evolved to recognise the invading fungus. This study demonstrates that wheat is more like rice, having a two gene system for recognition of fungal chitin and elicitation of the immune response. Moreover, these genes are capable of conferring resistance against STB in the absence of the interfering fungal gene.