Researchers led by Dr. Mitchell Feldmann, assistant professor and director-elect of the Strawberry Breeding program at UC Davis, are tackling the threat of Fof on two fronts: developing genetic resistance in strawberries and building knowledge about the mobility of airborne Fof. They are studying diverse strawberry varieties to uncover genetic bases for resistance to Fof and facilitate breeding for stronger resistance in strawberries. The team is also studying the spread and harmfulness of the airborne Fof spores to evaluate the pathogen’s potential to travel long distances.
“This FFAR ROAR award is part of a quick response from my group and Dr. Peter Henry of the USDA Agriculture Research Service to combat this emergent threat to California’s strawberry growers,” says Dr. Feldmann. “The support for FFAR and the University of California, Davis is instrumental for understanding the scope of the problem and for taking the first steps towards a solution.”
The results of this research will equip growers with precise risk management guidelines to protect their crops from Fof. For more information about this project, visit the Developing Strawberry Resistance to Fusarium Wilt page on FFAR’s website.
FFAR’s ROAR program rapidly funds research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to U.S. food supply or agricultural systems.