Unmasking the Devastating Fusarium Disease by CSIRO

Species of fungal pathogen Fusarium have been known to attack major crops such as wheat and barley (Fusarium graminearum), cotton, tomato and banana (Fusarium oxysporum), and corn (Fusarium verticilloides). In Australia alone, Fusarium pseudogramiearum, the causal pathogen of crown rot, can reduce wheat yield by $ 79 million annually.

In the recent issue of Nature, the CSIRO Plant Industry team uncovered the probable key to understanding the "weapons that the Fusarium fungi use to attack crops". The team has started decoding the DNA of Fusarium pseudograminearum and has also found that the fungi could transfer part of its DNA to a normally benign Fusarium, turning it into a virulent pathogen. By sequencing the different Fusarium species, the researchers hope to discover the innovative ways that these fungi can change themselves, the team leader Dr. Kemal Kazan said.

The CSIRO media release can be seen at http://www.csiro.au/news/CSIRO-helps-unmask-a-devastating-crop-disease.html