The global Fusarium initiative for international collaboration

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a grave threat that we will only overcome if we integrate all our wisdom and expertise. Many institutions around the world have devoted substantial resources to combat FHB, and have met with a measure of success. However, the global community is facing the threat of imminent epidemics. Unless steps are taken to strategically combat the disease on a global scale, this threat will materialize into a much greater problem and as such requires a global response. CIMMYT has adopted a holistic approach to enhance novel FHB resistance among genebank accessions and synthetic wheat derivatives and combine their resistance using systematic screening in multiple environments and genetic characterization by DNA markers. For this reason, CIMMYT is facilitating global communication through the Japan-CIMMYT FHB project supported by the Japanese government since 2004. The challenges and specific activities are based on the new paradigm which arose from the JIRCAS Workshop held in February 2004 in Tsukuba (Ban, 2004). The concept of the Global Fusarium Initiative was proposed and accepted at the 2 International Symposium on Fusarium head blight, incorporating the 8 European Fusarium Seminar, 11-15 December 2004, Florida USA (Van Ginkel and Ban, 2004). A new global collaboration for consensus QTL mapping of FHB resistance in wheat, involving the world’s most advanced FHB researchers, will be one of the activities. Fusarium fungi, the pathogen of FHB, also causes Fusarium crown rot (FCR) in Australia, Turkey and other places, and is another constraint to global wheat production. We have integrated research and germplasm enhancement for both FHB and FCR under the Global Fusarium Initiative. This initiative will encourage communication and cooperation among individuals, institutions and governments focusing on this disease. CIMMYT’s role in the Global Fusarium Initiative is to provide a platform for international collaboration on Fusarium research, and facilitate information exchange, germplasm enhancement and the development of breeding methods and materials globally. This Global Fusarium Initiative will encourage communication and cooperation among individuals, institutions and governments focusing on this disease. Specific activities will be linked using a web site and on-site forums (http://www.fusarium-net.org). Global Genotype x Environmental meta-data compilation, updated global information, and the development of a global crop information system on FHB data will be features of this web site. The Global Fusarium Initiative provides the platform to fight this grave threat. We are leading a new paradigm for international cooperation and collaborative research to combat the disease, which will contribute to the reduction of poverty and hunger world-wide. The challenges of this initiative are: Identification of new sources of resistant germplasm and pre-breeding Delineation of the nature of wheat resistance to FHB and host-pathogen interaction Development of effective cropping systems adjusting pathogen cycle and wheat growth Session 1: FHB-QTL consortium 2 Germplasm sharing and intellectual property rights (IPRs) management Knowledge sharing among the global community The specific activities of this initiative are: Linking with relevant Fusarium research activities Website and e-News, http://www.fusarium-net.org Global compilation of Genotype x Environment x Management meta-data through new international interactive screening nursery system Up to date global information on FHB epidemics, toxins and resistant breeding Biennial meetings for information sharing and focused discussion Global Crop Information System on FHB We aim to acquire potentially novel sources of resistance from global hotspots through our widespread contacts. Expectations are high that useful resistance genes may be identified during the screening of germplasm accessions and that the effects of Genotype x Environment x Management interactions and the distribution of Fusarium isolates will be better understood. In addition, we are working to develop a compilation/monitoring system for Fusarium genetic diversity, pathogenicity, and toxigenicity to further our abilities to control FHB.