The Rural Voice, 1999-03, Page 30Fighting fusarium
Researchers stalk a solution to the costly
problem of fusarium in corn
By Ralph Pearce
Fusarium. —One simple
word — one devastating
effect. Call it Fusarium
head blight or ear mold, the term
,still causes producers and
members of the agri-food sector
to shudder.
The most recent and
devastating incidence of
Fusarium occurred in 1996 and
virtually wiped out the wheat
crop in Southwestern Ontario. In
corn. outbreaks in 1986 and 1987
largely affected the livestock
industry. And the condition can
occur to a lesser extent in any
given year.
But now, research is
underway to eliminate Fusarium
in corn. With the opening of an
ethanol plant in Chatham (and
another near Cornwall to begin
production within five years) as
well as expansions at two of
Casco Inc.'s three corn
processing plants in Ontario, it's
arguable the need for research
into Fusarium in corn ranks
ahead of wheat. It's not that
wheat isn't important to Ontario. But corn is also finding
new customers for its products contributing to everything
from snack foods to auto parts, building materials to soft -
drinks and now pharmaceuticals.
For Ken Hough, research co-ordinator with the Ontario
Corn Producers' Association, the timing for finding a cure
for Fusarium is now. Although outbreaks have been
sporadic – and conditions for severe Fusarium infestation
must be precise — the applications for this kind of research
can be far-reaching.
"In simplistic terms, we're looking at it (from) genetic
resistance as opposed to the treatment of the symptoms,"
explained Hough, comparing it to the treatment of diabetes.
He said researchers want to find a cure for Fusarium, not a
treatment.
Two phases of research have been initiated, the first in
May 1997 and the second to begin in April -of this year.
Phase One has dealt with gene isolation and transformation
into the plant along' with establishing molecular markers –
26 THE RURAL VOICE
also known as DNA
fingerprinting. Phase Two, to
take place over three years, will
expand on those applications,
including cloning and yield
testing of transgenic lines. The
Agricultural Adaptation Council
has provided $310,000 (via the
CanAdapt fund) to both phases
and nine private companies,
including Pioneer and Novartis,
are involved as well. Hough
indicated Canadian work on
Fusarium is far ahead of U.S.
research into the disease, where
more money is spent on aflatoxin
and fumonisin; conditions that
are of greater concern south of
the border.
Here in Ontario, work _ is
ongoing at both the University of
Guelph and Agriculture and
Agri -Food Canada's Eastern
Cereals and Oilseeds Research
Centre (ECORC) in Ottawa.
Peter Pauls, from the Plant
Agriculture Department at the
University of Guelph, is involved
in the development of a
transformation system and work into identifying a DNA
fingerprint for Fusarium resistance.
In the development of a transformation system, a cross
of plant traits has been created in which disease resistance
can be determined through DNA screening. From there, the
crosses were identified for varying degrees of resistance
and are now in New Zealand to winter and grow seed. In
the spring, they'll be returned for resistance testing in
Ottawa.
By the end of next summer, suggested Pauls,
researchers will have an idea of which markers are linked'
to disease resistance in corn.
On the transformation side of the project, Pauls
indicated there are two methods of transformation; via a
particle "gun" (which shoots the DNA into a plant) and
through tissue cultures. The challenge with tissue cultures
is that corn — a monocotyledon plant — is not susceptible
to agrobacteria; dicotyledons (like beans) are.
The solution in this case is to use molecular markers —