Fusarium head blight (FHB) causes yield reduction, quality deterioration, and mycotoxin contamination in wheat, highlighting the need for resistant wheat varieties. In this study, we evaluated FHB resistance genes and infection rates in 44 domestic wheat varieties. Among them, 42 had the Type I resistance gene Fhb4, 37 had Fhb5, and 35 possessed both. For Type II resistance, 14 had Fhb1, 11 had Fhb2, and five had both. Twenty cultivars had both type I and type II resistance genes, and among them, Chungkye, Dahong, Gobun, Namhae, and Ol had all of the Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb4, and Fhb5 genes. The average infection rate over three years was 42.6% in cases with both Type I and Type II resistance genes and 44.3% in cases without Type II resistance genes. The infection rate was very high in 2020 and very low in 2021, complicating the analysis of the three-year average. However, when the infection rate was evenly distributed in 2019, there was a tendency for increased resistance among the varieties carrying Type II resistance genes. This suggested that external factors may influence infection rates, emphasizing the need for a precise evaluation system suitable for selecting additional resistance genes. In addition, it is necessary to develop resistant varieties suited to the domestic environment through additional resistance gene selection and integration of resistance genes. This study contributes to understanding FHB resistance genes in domestic wheat varieties and developing resistant domestic wheat varieties.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a severe disease of wheat, mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum, which greatly reduces wheat production and directly affects human and animal health due to the mycotoxins produced in wheat grains. To develop high-quality, stable yields, and mycotoxin-free crop, it is essential to first understand the genetic basis of wheat FHB-resistance, and to design molecular markers facilitating the selection of FHB-resistant varieties. However, despite extensive global research efforts, genetic research and marker development for the selection of FHB-resistant varieties, in Korea, are insufficient. Here, we summarize recent studies on FHB-resistance genes, resistance resources, quantitative trait locus analysis, and genome-wide association studies to enhance our understanding of FHB and the breeding of FHB-resistant domestic wheat cultivars.