The War on Scab abd DON: USDA-ARS/National Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative

摘要

Fusarium Head Blight of wheat and barley re-emerged inthe 1990s as a widespread and powerful enemy of Americanagriculture. This disease, also known as "scab," inflicts yieldand quality losses on farms in at least 23 states. Food industriesthroughout the United States incur losses from the cost ofdealing with the mycotoxin-contaminated grain that oftenaccompanies scab infection. Combined losses to all steps in thefood system are difficult to estimate, but the bill at the farmgate alone is estimated to exceed $5 billion since 1990. Thedeposition of Deoxynivalenol (DON) and other mycotoxinsin grain from infected fields represents a mortal threat to wheatand barley sectors in affected areas. This article describes anunprecedented multi-sector, multi-state, multi-disciplinaryfederal, state and private partnership aimed at eliminatingthe threat of scab to our wheat and barley industries. Thoughno "silver bullets" have been uncovered, progress towardsdiminishing risks is manifest and prospects promising.