Techniques learned at South Dakota State University are allowing a research scientist from the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology in Kazakhstan to breed wheat varieties resistant to two common fungal diseases.
Plant breeder Zagipa Sapakhova spent two months this summer studying tan spot and Septoria leaf blotch with SDSU small grains pathologist Shaukat Ali.
Using fungal isolates that Ali provided, Sapakhova became familiar with methods of identifying biomarkers for the tan spot toxin genes using polymerase chain reaction analysis and gel electrolysis. She will then use these techniques to characterize tan spot-causing races that affect wheat in Kazakhstan.
Producers can use fungicide to fight these diseases, but breeders can save the growers money if they find out whether new varieties are susceptible or resistant before they are commercialized, Ali explained.
More information is available here: http://www.sdstate.edu/news/articles/visiting-scientist-from-kazakhstan-studies-wheat-diseases-at-sdsu.cfm
