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

/M. nivale/infects crops, causing snow mold. After the snow melts, a
web-like mold of the fungus appears on the leaves of winter crops. The
leaves die off, and if the lesion is too great, then the whole plant
dies, along with the root. To prevent the death of crops and at the same
time not use chemical treatments, varieties resistant to the fungus are
needed.

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.

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