ACRCP Phase 5: Optimising genetic control of wheat rusts through identification of gene editing targets for broad spectrum wheat rust control

Plant diseases are a significant production constraint to all agricultural crops, including wheat where rust diseases remain a major threat. Rust disease resistance in wheat regularly breaks down due to the evolution of new virulent wheat rust races. New sources of rust disease resistance genes are therefore continually required to maintain crop protection. Gene editing is a powerful new technology that enables highly targeted modifications to be made in plant and animal genes. This project will apply this innovative new gene editing technology to modify wheat genes to create rust disease resistant plants. Gene editing will be used to explore if resistance conferred by known wheat rust resistance genes can be enhanced. Additionally, it will be used to inactivate wheat genes called susceptibility genes to see if this inactivation can provide novel rust disease resistance.