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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Integrating Biochemical Functions of β-Glucanases and Peroxidase Enzymes in Wheat-RWA Interaction
Published on: July 26, 2024
Cell wall features transferred from common into durum wheat to improve Fusarium Head Blight resistance
Angelica Giancaspro1, Vincenzo Lionetti2, Stefania L Giove1
1Department of Environmental and Territorial Sciences (DiSAAT), University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
Abstract:
Durum wheat is naturally more susceptible to Fusarium graminerum infection in comparison to common wheat. The improvement of durum wheat resistance against F. graminearum is a challenge due to the lack of resistance sources in its gene pool. FHB-resistance factors were introduced in durum wheat by generating recombinant inbred lines (RILs), obtained by crossing the hexaploid resistant accession 02-5B-318 with the susceptible durum wheat cv. Saragolla. In this work we explored the possible contribution of cell wall (CW) in RILs with improved FHB resistance. We thoroughly studied CW components, mycotoxins content and the expression of related genes in different RILs selected for their extremely high and low resistance to FHB. Differences were found in resistant and susceptible lines in the degree of pectin methylesterification and in deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation after fungal infection. Genes involved in biochemical modification of CW structure (WheatPme-1, Glu-1) and mycotoxins accumulation (ns-LTP-1) were analyzed as putative candidates for FHB resistance. Our results indicate that durum wheat plants with cell wall structure and gene response acquired from common wheat displayed an increased resistance to FHB.
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