Developing tools to enable high-throughput phenotyping of Septoria Tritici Blotch (STB) in wheat

The incidence of Septoria Tritici Blotch (STB) is highest and most damaging in the high and medium rainfall zones of the GRDC Southern and south of the Northern Region causing yield losses up to 50% if left untreated.  Since STB is a complex and evolving disease it is imperative to identify new genetic sources of resistance and to deploy existing and new genetics through breeding programs.  One important bottleneck to progress in these areas is the ability to phenotype the disease in research trials.  This investment will develop accurate, cost-effective, easy to use and high-throughput tools and methods to enable the pre-breeding and breeding communities to phenotype STB in wheat and accelerate research progress.