Farms.com Home   News

Scientists Identify Wheat Genetically Resistant to Fungus Causing Snow Mold

Scientists Identify Wheat Genetically Resistant to Fungus Causing Snow Mold

Scientists from six research institutions in Russia led by RUDN University have identified wheat genotypes resistant to the dangerous fungal pathogen Microdochium nivale that infects plants before the snow melts and reduces yields.

Wheat varieties that are resistant to snow mold were discovered in the plant genetic resources collection of the Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. This collection contains up to 1,085 samples from each year's crops. The researchers took data for 15 years (1978-2021) and found infected samples in 10 of them. They also found 12 genotypes in the collection resistant to snow mold. The researchers also identified the factors contributing to the disease's development. They analyzed the weather conditions in the 15-year study and found that abiotic factors weakened the plants' immunity, which affected their ability to cope with the pathogen.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.