Ronja Wonneberger

Please, briefly introduce your project. What motivated you to focus on this specific research topic, and why do you think it is particularly relevant today?

This project is part of a larger initiative to combat common bunt (CB) in organic wheat using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates plant breeding, pathology, and genomics. CB, caused by Tilletia tritici and T. laevis, is a seed-borne fungal disease that systemically infects wheat, replacing kernels with bunt balls filled with spores—resulting in significant yield losses and seed contamination.

With the rise of organic farming and the phase-out of chemical seed treatments, genetic resistance is the best long-term solution. However, CB defense mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using RNA sequencing and high-resolution microscopy, we aim to identify key genes, molecular pathways, and structural defenses involved in resistance.

This research is particularly timely, as climate change and shifting agricultural practices are expected to increase the prevalence of seed-borne diseases. By advancing our understanding of wheat’s defense mechanisms, this project will contribute to proactive resistance breeding, ensuring more resilient cultivars and supporting the long-term sustainability of organic wheat production.

Can you describe the innovative aspects of your project and the potential impact it could have on breeding research?

While CB research has received a lot of attention in the past, much of the hands-on experience has been lost. In this project, we are focusing on different aspects of CB resistance in wheat. In addition to studying gene expression and defense mechanisms, other work packages will address screenings for prevalent races and virulence genes in Sweden, genetic association studies to identify genomic regions and molecular markers associated with resistance, and studies to identify virulence genes in the pathogen population.

By combining cutting-edge genomic tools with practical breeding applications, this project not only identifies molecular resistance mechanisms but also provides breeders with critical information on resistant wheat lines and prevalent virulence genes. The discovery of molecular markers associated with CB resistance will be particularly valuable, enabling breeders to efficiently screen for resistance and accelerate the development of durable, disease-resistant wheat varieties.

How did the collaboration between faculties contribute to the design of your project and what unique opportunities does it bring?

This project is highly interdisciplinary, bringing together experts in plant breeding, plant pathology, and genomics, along with partners from the breeding industry. This broad expertise is essential for developing effective resistance strategies against the common bunt.

Key benefits of this collaboration include:

• A Comprehensive Approach to Resistance Breeding – By integrating phenotypic screening, genetic mapping, and molecular biology, we can investigate resistance mechanisms at multiple levels, from field trials to gene function analysis.
• Direct Impact on Practical Breeding – Working closely with breeding companies ensures that newly identified resistance genes are quickly incorporated into elite wheat cultivars, bridging the gap between research and real-world application.

By leveraging these partnerships, the project maximizes its scientific and practical impact. Additionally, a PhD student will play a key role in this research, benefiting from direct collaboration with experts across academia and industry, gaining valuable skills for future careers in plant science and breeding.

Any final word or recommendation for future applicants? 

Interdisciplinary collaboration is key to solving urgent and complex challenges. Agricultural research benefits from bringing together experts from different fields, and expanding your professional network strengthens both your project and the institutions involved. While understanding the science behind plant resistance is important, applying these findings to real-world breeding programs has the greatest impact—helping to address global issues like food security and climate change.