Breeding for resistance to Fusarium head blight of wheat in the mid- to lower Yangtze River Valley of China

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat or scab is an important fungal disease in many areas of the world, especially where humid moist conditions prevail from heading to maturity. It is a particularly troublesome disease in China where more than 6.7 million hectares of wheat are affected--primarily in the mid- to lower Yangtze River Valley. In this special report, CIMMYT visiting scientist Yang Zhuping provides an overview of the effort in China to breed for FHB resistance.