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Fungal Protein Critical to Causing Fusarium Head Blight in Cereal Crops Revealed
Enzyme that suppresses plant immune defences could be the key to engineering Fusarium-resistant crops
3 June, 2025
The destructive fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum uses a specialized protein to weaken plant immune defences and cause Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease that severely damages wheat and barley crops worldwide, according to a new study recently published in the journal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. These new insights into how F. graminearum attacks crops could lead to the development of genetically engineered disease-resistant grains.
The collaborative research team, led by Matthew Helm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Roger Innes at Indiana University Bloomington and Kim Hammond-Kosack at Rothamsted Research identified and functionally characterized a fungal protein called TPP1. This protease enzyme is secreted by F. graminearum during infection and plays a central role in helping the fungus overcome plant defences by targeting the chloroplast—an essential part of the plant cell responsible not only for energy production but also for immune signalling.
This study could be transformational for developing disease-resistant crops.
“What excites us most is that this effector protease not only promotes disease but also targets the chloroplast, which is an unexpected and strategic location for disarming the plant’s immune system,” said Dr Helm. “This study could be transformational for developing disease-resistant crops.”
FHB continues to threaten global food security, causing significant yield losses and contaminating grain with mycotoxins that are harmful to humans and livestock. In this study, researchers showed that when the gene for TPP1 was knocked out, the fungus became significantly less virulent, confirming that this protein is essential for infection. The finding sheds light on a largely unexplored mechanism in fungal pathogenesis.
This is the first report to identify an effector protease from F. graminearum that targets the chloroplast and directly contributes to disease development by suppressing plant immune responses. The discovery of TPP1’s role marks a significant advancement in our understanding of fungal pathogenesis. It also opens up exciting possibilities for using ‘decoy’ engineering strategies to develop wheat and barley varieties with built-in resistance.
“In addition, TPP1 appears to be highly conserved across a broad group of fungal pathogens, making it potentially a prime target to deliver plant disease resistance against other problematic fungal species” said Rothamsted's Dr.Hammond-Kosack.
With implications for both the plant-microbe and broader host-microbe research fields, this foundational work brings researchers one step closer to long-term goals of reducing crop loss and ensuring food security. It lays the groundwork for bioengineering more resilient wheat and barley varieties, which is an urgent need in the face of a changing climate and rising global food demand. The ultimate goal, say the authors, is to protect global food supplies by reducing crop losses from Fusarium head blight which makes this study is an important step forward.
Publication
Contacts
Dr Kim Hammond-Kosack
Molecular Plant Pathologist
ABOUT ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH
Rothamsted Research is the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world. We work from gene to field with a proud history of ground-breaking
discoveries in areas as diverse as crop management, statistical interpretation and soil health. Our founders, in 1843, were the pioneers of modern
agriculture, and we are known for our imaginative science and our collaborative approach to developing innovative farm practice.
Through independent research, we make significant contributions to improving agri-food systems in the UK and internationally, with
economic impact estimated to exceed £3 bn in annual contribution to the UK economy. Our strength lies in our systems approach, which combines strategic research,
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Rothamsted is home to three unique National Bioscience Research Infrastructures which are open to researchers from all over the world:
The Long-Term Experiments,
Rothamsted Insect Survey and the
North Wyke Farm Platform.
We are strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with additional support from other national and
international funding streams, and from industry. We are also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT).
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BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Through our investments, we build and support a vibrant,
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The Lawes Agricultural Trust, established in 1889 by Sir John Bennet Lawes, supports Rothamsted Research’s national and international agricultural science through the provision of land, facilities and funding. LAT, a charitable trust, owns the estates at Harpenden and Broom's Barn, including many of the buildings used by Rothamsted Research. LAT provides an annual research grant to the Director, accommodation for nearly 200 people, and support for fellowships for young scientists from developing countries. LAT also makes capital grants to help modernise facilities at Rothamsted, or invests in new buildings.