Fungus genome yielding answers to protect grains, people and animals

A fungus called Fusarium graminearum causes head blight, or scab, which causes more damage to cereal grains than any other disease. Purdue molecular biologist Jin-Rong Xu is using the fungus' genome to find ways to prevent it. The laboratory dish on the left shows the pathogenic fungus that attacks wheat, barley and some other small grains. The right dish shows Fusarium graminearum that has been genetically modified so that it won't cause the disease. Credit: Purdue Agricultural Communication photo/Tom Campbell