Breeding Fhb-resistant soft winter wheat: Progress and prospects

Soft winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding programs in the US have used two general approaches to developing FHB-resistant cultivars: 1) incorporation of Fhb1 plus other minor QTL from Asian wheat cultivars and their derivatives and 2) reliance on resistance native to the soft winter wheat gene pool. Although each approach has shown same success, it is believed that the two must be integrated to develop the highest levels of resistance. The most favorable scenario for integration is the incorporation of Fhb1 into adapted material with good native resistance, high yield and test weight, and superior milling and baking quality.