Canada - New Fusarium Resistant Feed Barley Varieties Expected Within Five Years

Scientists in Western Canada expect varieties of feed barley that are less susceptible to contamination from the mycotoxins produced by fusarium to be available within five years. Deoxynivalenon or DON, the mycotoxin produced by fusarium graminearum, has differing effects on various livestock species. Pigs tend to be the most sensitive and may refuse feed, perform poorly or become ill. Fusarium Head Blight Research Project Leader Dr. Bill Legge says, in the feed category, hulless barley varieties tend to have the lowest levels of DON. "Some of the varieties that are available right now actually have quite low DON levels. An example would be CDC Freedom from the University of Saskatchewan. In general the two row hulless varieties tend to have a lower DON content that do the six rows but, in spite of that, some of the six row varieties like AC Hawkeye have shown fairly low levels of DON. In hulless varieties we already have ones available that are pretty good and there'll probably be varieties coming out within the next five years that are even better. On the covered, hulled side of feed barley there's also a number of varieties that have a little bit lower DON than average and we're attempting to improve on that further. We would expect to see some better hulled varieties coming out as well but it might be just a bit longer before we have the hulled varieties." Dr. Legge says a line developed specifically for lower DON content at the Brandon Research Centre and entered this spring in the registration trials had about half the average levels of DON. He says, if that line performs well, it could be registered and available within four to five years.